Open AccessChanges in Brain Serotonin Turnover, Body and Head Shakes in Kainic Acid‐Treated Rats
Author(s) -
OsorioRico Laura,
ManceraFlores Mayra,
Ríos Camilo
Publication year - 2003
Publication title -
pharmacology & toxicology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 1600-0773
pISSN - 0901-9928
DOI - 10.1034/j.1600-0773.2003.920307.x
Subject(s) - kainic acid , serotonin , medicine , endocrinology , chemistry , striatum , monoamine neurotransmitter , neurotoxin , dopamine , receptor , biology , glutamate receptor
Kainic acid induces seizures and neurotoxicity in rats, produces changes in brain serotonin (5‐HT), dopamine and noradrenaline metabolites among other changes in neurotransmitters. In this work, we investigated the changes in 5‐HT turnover in brain regions from 84 rats intraperitoneally injected with kainic acid and a specific behavioural change, the body and head shakes, exerted by this neurotoxin in the presence of 5‐HT receptor antagonists. Kainic acid produced an increase in 5‐hydroxyindoleacetic acid levels in frontal cortex (212%; 180%), striatum (177%; 116%), amygdala (202%; 337%) and hippocampus (43%; 70 %) at 2 and 24 hr as compared with controls, respectively. Serotonin turnover was increased in amygdala (157%) and frontal cortex (169%) at 2 hr; whereas 24 hr after kainic acid administration, increases were observed in amygdala (207%), and frontal cortex (178%). Kainic acid also produced an increase in the frequency of head and body shakes when administered alone or together with pargyline, a monoamine oxidase inhibitor; whereas the administration of 5‐HT receptor antagonists such as ketanserin and methiothepin, decreased this behaviour 54% and 50% as compared with kainic acid alone, respectively. These results suggest an active participation of 5‐HT neurotransmission on the excitotoxic action of kainic acid in the brain.