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Related Experiment Videos

Early life adversity programs changes in central 5-HT neuronal function in adulthood.

Sarah E Gartside1, Daniel A Johnson, Melville M Leitch

  • 1Psychobiology Research Group, School of Neurology, Neurobiology and Psychiatry, University of Newcastle, The Medical School, Framlington Place, Newcastle upon Tyne NE2 4HH, UK. sasha.gartside@ncl.ac.uk

The European Journal of Neuroscience
|June 20, 2003
PubMed
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Early life adversity, like maternal separation in rats, alters brain serotonin pathways. This may explain increased psychiatric illness risk in adults with a history of early adversity.

Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Psychiatry
  • Neurobiology

Background:

  • Early life adversity is linked to adult psychiatric disorders.
  • Brain serotonin (5-hydroxytryptamine) neurotransmission is implicated in psychiatric conditions.
  • The precise mechanisms connecting early adversity to altered serotonin systems remain unclear.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the long-term effects of early maternal separation on serotonin neurotransmission in adult rats.
  • To examine changes in alpha1-adrenoceptor and serotonin 1A receptor sensitivity on serotonin neurons.
  • To assess alterations in serotonin release and neuronal activity in response to receptor modulation.

Main Methods:

  • In vitro electrophysiology to measure receptor sensitivity on dorsal raphe nucleus 5-hydroxytryptamine neurons.

Related Experiment Videos

  • In vivo microdialysis to assess 5-hydroxytryptamine release in the frontal cortex.
  • In situ hybridization histochemistry to quantify receptor gene expression in the dorsal raphe nucleus.

    • Main Results:

    • Early maternal separation reduced alpha1-adrenoceptor sensitivity on 5-hydroxytryptamine neurons.
    • A trend towards reduced 5-hydroxytryptamine1A receptor sensitivity was observed.
    • Reduced suppression of frontal cortex 5-hydroxytryptamine release by a 5-hydroxytryptamine1A agonist indicated autoreceptor desensitization.
    • No significant changes in basal 5-hydroxytryptamine levels or 5-hydroxytryptamine neuron firing rates were detected.
    • Gene expression for 5-hydroxytryptamine1A and alpha1B receptors remained unchanged.

    Conclusions:

    • Early life adversity, modeled by maternal separation, induces lasting changes in the sensitivity of key regulators of serotonin neuron activity.
    • These neurobiological adaptations in serotonin systems may underlie the heightened risk for psychiatric disorders following early life adversity.
    • Findings suggest that early adversity alters the functional regulation of the serotonin system, independent of changes in receptor gene expression.