The interplay between 5-HT2C and 5-HT3A receptors in the dorsal periaqueductal gray mediates anxiety-like behavior in mice

Author(s)

Lopes, Luana Tenorio ^[1] ; Canto-de-Souza, Lucas ^{[2, 3]} ; Baptista-de-Souza, Daniela ^{[4, 2, 3]} ; de Souza, Rimenez Rodrigues ^{[5, 6]} ; Nunes-de-Souza, Ricardo L. ^{[4, 2, 3, 7]} ; Canto-de-Souza, Azair ^{[8, 4, 3, 7]}

Affiliation

^[1] Univ Calgary, Hotchkiss Brain Inst, Dept Physiol & Pharmacol, Calgary, AB - Canada

^[2] Univ Estadual Paulista, Sch Pharmaceut Sci, Lab Pharmacol, UNESP, BR-14801902 Araraquara, SP - Brazil

^[3] Neurosci & Behav Inst, Av Cafe 2-450, BR-14050220 Ribeirao Preto, SP - Brazil

^[4] CECH UFSCar, Psychobiol Grp, Dept Psychol, Rod Washington Luis, Km 235, BR-13565905 Sao Carlos, SP - Brazil

^[5] Univ Texas Dallas, Sch Behav & Brain Sci, 800 West Campbell Rd, Richardson, TX 75080 - USA

^[6] Univ Texas Dallas, Texas Biomed Device Ctr, 800 West Campbell Rd, Richardson, TX 75080 - USA

^[7] Joint Grad Program Physiol Sci UFSCar, UNESP, Rod Washington Luis, Km 235, BR-13565905 Sao Carlos, SP - Brazil

^[8] Grad Program Psychol UFSCar, Rod Washington Luis, Km 235, BR-13565905 Sao Carlos, SP - Brazil

• Document type: Journal article
• Source: Behavioural Brain Research; v. 417, JAN 24 2022.
• Web of Science Citations: 0

Abstract

The monoamine neurotransmitter serotonin (5-HT) modulates anxiety by its activity on 5-HT2C receptors (5HT2CR) expressed in the dorsal periaqueductal gray (dPAG). Here, we investigated the presence of 5-HT3A receptors (5-HT3AR) in the dPAG, and the interplay between 5-HT2CR and 5-HT3AR in the dPAG in mediating anxiety-like behavior in mice. We found that 5-HT3AR is expressed in the dPAG and the blockade of these receptors using intra-dPAG infusion of ondansetron (5-HT3AR antagonist; 3.0 nmol) induced an anxiogenic-like effect. The activation of 5-HT3ABR by the infusion of mCPBG {[}1-(m-Chlorophenyl)-biguanide; 5-HT3R agonist] did not alter anxiety-like behaviors. In addition, blockade of 5-HT3AR (1.0 nmol) prevented the anxiolytic-like effect induced by the infusion of the 5-HT2CR agonist mCPP (1-(3-chlorophenyl) piperazine; 0.03 nmol). None of the treatment effects on anxiety-like behaviors altered the locomotor activity levels. The present results suggest that the anxiolytic-like effect exerted by serotonin activity on 5-HT2CR in the dPAG is modulated by 5HT3AR expressed in same region. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 16/08665-0 - Evaluation of left and right medial prefrontal cortex glutamatergic and GABAergic neurotransmissions in ethanol-induced consumption by social defeat stress in mice
• Grantee: Lucas Canto de Souza
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Post-Doctoral