Increased electrical and metabolic activity in the dorsal raphe nucleus of Parkinsonian rats

Brain Res. 2008 Jul 24:1221:93-7. doi: 10.1016/j.brainres.2008.05.019. Epub 2008 May 18.

Abstract

Serotonin (5-HT) containing neurons in the dorsal raphe nucleus (DRN) may play important roles in Parkinson's disease (PD). This study investigated neural and metabolic activity of the DRN in animal PD models based on dopamine depletion. The data show both increased firing rate of DRN 5-HT neurons and increased cytochrome oxidase activity in dopamine-depleted rats, as compared to controls. These data support the hypothesis that the DRN 5-HT system is hyperactive in the dopamine-depleted brain.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Action Potentials* / physiology
  • Animals
  • Denervation
  • Dopamine / deficiency
  • Electron Transport Complex IV / metabolism
  • Energy Metabolism* / physiology
  • Male
  • Mesencephalon / cytology
  • Mesencephalon / metabolism*
  • Neurons / cytology
  • Neurons / metabolism*
  • Oxidopamine
  • Parkinsonian Disorders / physiopathology*
  • Raphe Nuclei / cytology
  • Raphe Nuclei / metabolism*
  • Rats
  • Rats, Sprague-Dawley
  • Serotonin / metabolism
  • Sympatholytics
  • Synaptic Transmission / physiology
  • Up-Regulation / physiology

Substances

  • Sympatholytics
  • Serotonin
  • Oxidopamine
  • Electron Transport Complex IV
  • Dopamine