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Serotonin-norepinephrine interactions: a voltammetric study on the effect of serotonin receptor stimulation followed in the N. raphe dorsalis and the Locus coeruleus of the rat

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Summary

In vivo voltammetry with carbon fibre electrodes was used to study the effect of the serotoninergic (5-HT) neuronal system on the noradrenergic (NE) system in the Locus coeruleus of the rat. The voltammetric DOPAC signal in the Locus coeruleus, used as a measure of NE neuronal activity, was increased after systemic application of the 5-HT1B agonist CGS-12066B, the 5-HT2 antagonist ritanserin, and, to a lesser extent, by ipsapirone, a 5-HT1A agonist. The findings suggest that the NE neuronal system of the Locus coeruleus is stimulated by 5-HT1A and 5-HT1B receptor activation and inhibited by 5-HT2 receptors. Likewise the 5-HT releaser and uptake inhibitor fenfluramine increased the DOPAC level in the Locus coeruleus. In contrast to the 5-HT1 agonists, which reduced 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid (5-HIAA) in the Nucleus raphe dorsalis, ritanserin increased the 5-HIAA signal in this nucleus. This finding could help to explain the action of ritanserin as sleep-modulating substance.

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Author notes

  1. W. Wesemann

    Present address: Institute of Physiological Chemistry, Department of Neurochemistry, Philipps-University, Federal Republic of Germany

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Physiological Chemistry, Department of Neurochemistry, Philipps-University, Federal Republic of Germany

    H. W. Clement

  2. Institute of Immunology, Philipps University, Marburg/Lahn, Federal Republic of Germany

    D. Gemsa

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  1. H. W. Clement
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  2. D. Gemsa
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Clement, H.W., Gemsa, D. & Wesemann, W. Serotonin-norepinephrine interactions: a voltammetric study on the effect of serotonin receptor stimulation followed in the N. raphe dorsalis and the Locus coeruleus of the rat. J. Neural Transmission 88, 11–23 (1992). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01245033

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01245033

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