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Increased 5‐HT 2 receptor number in brain as a probable explanation for the enhanced 5‐hydroxytryptamine‐mediated behaviour following repeated electroconvulsive shock administration to rats
Author(s) -
Green A. Richard,
Johnson Pauline,
Nimgaonkar Vishwajit L.
Publication year - 1983
Publication title -
british journal of pharmacology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.432
H-Index - 211
eISSN - 1476-5381
pISSN - 0007-1188
DOI - 10.1111/j.1476-5381.1983.tb11063.x
Subject(s) - electroconvulsive shock , 5 ht receptor , neuroscience , pharmacology , receptor , electroconvulsive therapy , serotonin , anesthesia , medicine , psychology
1 Following electroconvulsive shock (ECS) administration daily for 10 days there was an increase (35%) in 5‐hydroxytryptamine 2 (5‐HT 2 ) receptor number in rat frontal cortex 24 h after the last ECS, compared with handled controls. A similar increase was seen after intermittent ECS administration (5 ECS over 10 days) given during halothane anaesthesia, compared with halothane‐treated controls. The dissociation constant was also increased at this time. A single ECS had no effect. 2 Treatment of rats with pentylenetetrazol, p ‐chlorophenylalanine or α‐methyl p ‐tyrosine during the intermittent ECS administration abolished the increase in 5‐HT 2 receptor binding. 3 Since enhanced 5‐HT‐mediated behavioural responses are seen after repeated ECS but not when the ECS is given with the drug treatments outlined above, it is suggested that ECS‐induced enhancement of 5‐HT‐mediated behaviour results from an increase in 5‐HT 2 receptor number.