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Rat strain differences in peripheral and central serotonin transporter protein expression and function
Author(s) -
Fernandez Francesca,
Sarre Sophie,
Launay JeanMarie,
Aguerre Sylvie,
GuyonnetDupérat Véronique,
Moisan MariePierre,
Ebinger Guy,
Michotte Yvette,
Mormède Pierre,
Chaouloff Francis
Publication year - 2003
Publication title -
european journal of neuroscience
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.346
H-Index - 206
eISSN - 1460-9568
pISSN - 0953-816X
DOI - 10.1046/j.1460-9568.2003.02473.x
Subject(s) - endocrinology , medicine , hippocampal formation , serotonin transporter , serotonin , serotonin reuptake inhibitor , serotonin plasma membrane transport proteins , paroxetine , reuptake , chemistry , citalopram , hippocampus , biology , antidepressant , receptor
Female Fischer 344 (F344) rats have been shown to display increased serotonin transporter ( 5‐HTT ) gene expression in the dorsal raphe, compared to female Lewis (LEW) rats. Herein, we explored, by means of synaptosomal preparations and in vivo microdialysis, whether central, but also peripheral, 5‐HTT protein expression/function differ between strains. Midbrain and hippocampal [ 3 H]paroxetine binding at the 5‐HTT and hippocampal [ 3 H]serotonin (5‐HT) reuptake were increased in male and female F344 rats, compared to their LEW counterparts, these strain differences being observed both in rats of commercial origin and in homebred rats. Moreover, in homebred rats, it was found that these strain differences extended to blood platelet 5‐HTT protein expression and function. Saturation studies of midbrain and hippocampal [ 3 H]paroxetine binding at the 5‐HTT, and hippocampal and blood platelet [ 3 H]5‐HT reuptake, also revealed significant strain differences in B max and V max values. Although F344 and LEW rats differ in the activity of the hypothalamo‐pituitary‐adrenal (HPA) axis, manipulations of that axis revealed that the strain differences in hippocampal [ 3 H]paroxetine binding at 5‐HTTs and [ 3 H]5‐HT reuptake were not accounted for by corticosteroids. Hippocampal extracellular 5‐HT levels were reduced in F344 rats, compared to LEW rats, with the relative, but not the absolute, increase in extracellular 5‐HT elicited by the local administration of citalopram being larger in F344 rats. Because the aforementioned strain differences did not lie in the coding sequences of the 5‐HTT gene, our results open the promising hypothesis that F344 and LEW strains model functional polymorphisms in the promoter region of the human 5‐HTT gene.