Motor activity induces release of serotonin in the dorsal horn of the rat lumbar spinal cord

Neurosci Lett. 2008 May 9;436(2):91-5. doi: 10.1016/j.neulet.2008.01.081. Epub 2008 Feb 14.

Abstract

Literature highlights that serotonergic descending pathways are implicated in somatosensory functions in the spinal cord and that serotonin (5-HT) in the dorsal horn might play a role in motor function through proprioceptive feedback. We hypothesized that 5-HT release in dorsal horn might represent an important factor in the completion of locomotion by facilitation of the spinocerebellar tract and/or by modulation of spinal reflex pathways. The present study demonstrates that during locomotor activity, 5-HT is released in layers II, III, IV, V of Rexed. Microdialysis in combination with HPLC was used to measure concentrations of neurotransmitters in the lumbar dorsal horn before, during, and after a treadmill running exercise. Our results show a significant 41% increase of 5-HT release within the dorsal horn during the exercise. 5-HT release is temporally related to exercise. The present study demonstrates that dorsal horn 5-HT release might modulate locomotion.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Behavior, Animal / physiology
  • Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid / methods
  • Hydroxyindoleacetic Acid / metabolism
  • Lumbosacral Region
  • Male
  • Microdialysis / methods
  • Motor Activity / physiology*
  • Rats
  • Rats, Sprague-Dawley
  • Serotonin / metabolism*
  • Spinal Cord / anatomy & histology
  • Spinal Cord / metabolism*
  • Time Factors

Substances

  • Serotonin
  • Hydroxyindoleacetic Acid