Maternal deprivation regulates serotonin 1A and 2A receptors in the infant rat

Brain Res. 2000 Feb 7;855(1):76-82. doi: 10.1016/s0006-8993(99)02307-0.

Abstract

Several studies have demonstrated that 5-HT1A and 5-HT2A receptors are altered in rat brain following chronic stress. While this is true in the adult animal, this may be different in the developing animal, which has a limited corticosterone response to acute challenges between days 3 and 14 of life.

Methods: We investigated the effect of maternal deprivation on 5-HT2A and 5-HT1A receptor mRNA levels in the developing brain. In situ hybridization was used to quantify gene expression in rat pups at three ages: 6, 9, and 12 days old. In each age group, half were maternally deprived for 24 h and half were kept with their mothers. Maternally deprived animals showed elevated ACTH and corticosterone plasma levels when compared to NDEP animals, significantly elevated 5-HT1A mRNA levels in the CA1 hippocampal region and, significantly elevated 5-HT2A mRNA levels in the parietal cortex. No changes were observed in 5-HT1A or 5-HT-transporter mRNA levels in the dorsal raphe. Our results indicate that post-synaptic 5-HT receptors in the developing hippocampus and cortex are sensitive to maternal deprivation. Because hippocampal 5-HT1A gene expressions are known to decrease in the adult animal after chronic glucocorticoid elevation, this data also suggests that other mechanisms, perhaps central, predominate during development.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Adrenocorticotropic Hormone / blood
  • Age Factors
  • Animals
  • Brain Stem / chemistry
  • Brain Stem / growth & development
  • Brain Stem / metabolism*
  • Corticosterone / blood
  • Female
  • Frontal Lobe / chemistry
  • Frontal Lobe / growth & development
  • Frontal Lobe / metabolism
  • Gene Expression / physiology
  • Hippocampus / chemistry
  • Hippocampus / growth & development
  • Hippocampus / metabolism*
  • Maternal Deprivation*
  • Parietal Lobe / chemistry
  • Parietal Lobe / growth & development
  • Parietal Lobe / metabolism
  • RNA, Messenger / analysis
  • Rats
  • Rats, Wistar
  • Receptor, Serotonin, 5-HT2A
  • Receptors, Serotonin / genetics*
  • Receptors, Serotonin / metabolism
  • Receptors, Serotonin, 5-HT1

Substances

  • RNA, Messenger
  • Receptor, Serotonin, 5-HT2A
  • Receptors, Serotonin
  • Receptors, Serotonin, 5-HT1
  • Adrenocorticotropic Hormone
  • Corticosterone