EXPRESSION OF SEROTONIN TRANSPORT PROTEIN IN THE DORSAL RAPHE NUCLEUS IN THE EARLY POSTNATAL PERIOD IN RATS

Abstract

In this work an expression of serotonin transport protein (5-HTT) was studied in the dorsal raphe nucleus (DRN) - in its dorsal, ventral and lateral subnuclei in Wistar rats (n=15) during the early postnatal period. Histological methods and immunocytochemical staining demonstrating 5-HTT were used in the investigation. It was shown that at postnatal Day 5 major part of neurons of the subnuclei studied intensively expressed 5-HTT. However, by Day 10, the level of its expression decreased dramatically, but with age (by Day 20) the expression was increased once again. This was manifested by the augmentation of size of 5-НТТ-positive neuronal population, the increase in the density of plexus network of their processes. The detected changes of 5-HTT expression indicate the varying degrees of functional activity of serotonin in the DRN in the early postnatal period.

Keywords

dorsal raphe nucleus / neurons / neuronal processes. serotonin transport protein

References

[1] Bruning G., Liangos O., Baumgarten H. G. Prenatal development of the serotonin transrorter in mouse brain // Cell. Tiss. Res. 1997. Vol. 289, № 2. P. 211-221.

[2] Tao-Cheng J. H., Zhou F. C. Differential polarization of serotonin transporters in axons vs. soma-dendrites: an immunogold electron microscopy study // Neuroscience. 1999. Vol. 94. P. 821-830.

[3] Zhou F. C., Sari Y., Zhang J. K. Expression of serotonin transporter protein in developing rat brain // Dev. Brain Res. 2000. Vol. 119. P. 33-45.

[4] Zhou F. C., Tao-Cheng J. H., Segu L. et al. Serotonin transporters are located on the axons beyond the synaptic junction: anatomical and functional evidence // Brain Res. 1998. Vol. 805. P. 241-254.

[5] Zhou F. C., Xu Y., Bledsoe S. et al. Serotonin transporter anti bodies: production, characterization, and localization in the brain // Mol. Brain Res. 1996. Vol. 43. P. 267-278.

RIGHTS & PERMISSIONS

Eco-Vector