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Plasma corticosterone response to serotonin altering drugs in the 3‐day‐old rat
Author(s) -
Grota Lee J.
Publication year - 1979
Publication title -
developmental psychobiology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.055
H-Index - 93
eISSN - 1098-2302
pISSN - 0012-1630
DOI - 10.1002/dev.420120414
Subject(s) - corticosterone , serotonin , endocrinology , medicine , psychology , pharmacology , hormone , receptor
Three‐day‐old rats were injected with various neurotransmitter altering agents to demonstrate a functional relationship between these drugs and plasma corticoid levels. Plasma corticosterone levels were increased after injection of methiothepin, methysergide, and 5‐hydroxytryptophan (5‐HTP), but were not changed by cholinergic, adrenergic, and dopaminergic compounds. Imipramine alone had no effects on plasma corticoids but in combination with 5‐HTP resulted in a more sustained response than 5‐HTP alone. A functional relationship between plasma corticosterone and serotonin receptors has been demonstrated in the 3‐day‐old rat. The presence of this relationship just after birth suggests the possibility that serotonin may be a mediator of early experience effects on later adrenocortical function.