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Behavioral correlates of serotonin depletion

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Behavioral Pharmacology

Part of the book series: FASEB Monographs ((FASEBM,volume 4))

Abstract

Depletion of telencephalic serotonin (5-HT) content by medial forebrain bundle lesions, which interrupt the ascending serotonergic pathways or by dl-p-chlorophenylalanine produces an increased sensitivity to pain as measured by the flinch-jump, stabilimetric, or hot-plate methods. Examination of the effects of a number of other lesions and drugs indicated that dopamine, norepinephrine and acetylcholine are not involved in pain sensitivity. Dosages of 75 mg/kg dl-5-hydroxytryptophan(5-HTP), 37.5 mg/kg l-5-HTP or 50 mg/kg Ro 4-4602 (N 1-(dl-seryl)-N 2-(2,3,4-trihydroxybenzyl)hydrazine) plus 37.5 mg/kg l-5-HTP administered to medial forebrain bundle lesioned rats returned both the telencephalic content of 5-HT and the pain threshold to normal values. Injection of 37.5 mg/kg of d-5-HTP or an equimolar dose of l-dopa had no effect on pain threshold. Normal animals display increased sensitivity to pain and decreased 5-HT contents in frontal pole, hippocampus, and amygdala during dark as compared to light hours. All three of these telencephalic areas are innervated by the ascending serotonergic pathways, and cells in these areas show inhibition of firing following the iontophoretic application of 5-HT. Taken together, these data suggest that the serotonergic system normally acts to inhibit the effects of painful stimuli. A review of a variety of behavioral effects of 5-HT depletion including an enhanced response to lysergic acid diethylamide and amphetamine suggests that the ascending serotonergic system may have a general role in the inhibition of arousal, rather than a specific role with respect to various categories of behavior.—Harvey, J. A., A.J. Schlosberg and L. M. Yunger. Behavioral correlates of serotonin depletion. Federation Proc. 34: 1796-1801, 1975.

Supported by Public Health Service Grant MH-16841 and National Institute of Mental Health Research Scientist Award MY-21849 to J.A.H. A.J.S. was supported by predoctoral fellowship MH08333 and L.M.Y, by predoctoral fellowship MH 10641.

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Abbreviations

5-HT:

serotonin

5-HTP:

5-hydroxytryptophan

MFB:

medial forebrain bundle

pCP:

DH-p-chlorophenylalanine

Ro 4-4602:

N 1-(DL-seryl)-N 2-(2,3,4-trihydroxybenzyl)hydrazine

AMPT:

α-methyl-p-tyrosine

ACh:

acetylcholine

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Psychology, University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa, 52242, USA

    John A. Harvey, Arthur J. Schlosberg & Libby M. Yunger

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  1. John A. Harvey
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  2. Arthur J. Schlosberg
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  3. Libby M. Yunger
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Editors and Affiliations

  1. University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry, USA

    Bernard Weiss  & Victor G. Laties  & 

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Harvey, J.A., Schlosberg, A.J., Yunger, L.M. (1975). Behavioral correlates of serotonin depletion. In: Weiss, B., Laties, V.G. (eds) Behavioral Pharmacology. FASEB Monographs, vol 4. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4684-2634-2_8

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4684-2634-2_8

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Boston, MA

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-4684-2636-6

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-4684-2634-2

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