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Behavioural and microdialysis study after neurotoxic lesion of the dorsal raphe nucleus in rats
André Rex1, Heike Thomas, Heide Hörtnagl
1Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, School of Veterinary Medicine, Freie Universität Berlin, Koserstr. 20, D-14195, Berlin, Germany. andrerex@zedat.fu-berlin.de
Abstract:
The study investigated the effects of a 5,7-dihydroxytryptamine (5,7-DHT) lesion of the dorsal raphe nucleus (DRN) on anxiety-related behaviour and neurochemical correlates in rats. Behaviour was assessed in the elevated plus maze test (X-maze). Lesion of the DRN reduced markedly 5-HT levels in projection areas by at least 60%. Destruction of the serotonergic neurons in the DRN changed neither anxiety-related behaviour on the elevated plus maze, nor aversion-induced 5-HT release in the brain. Exposure of the lesioned rats to the elevated plus maze increased extracellular 5-HT (148%) in the ventral hippocampus similar as in sham-lesioned (162%) and non-lesioned (160%) controls. The results demonstrate that lesioning of 5-HT neurons in the DRN does not abolish totally the control of anxiety-related behaviour.
