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Transient postnatal elevation of serotonin levels in mouse neocortex.
C F Hohmann1, R Hamon, M L Batshaw
1Department of Psychiatry, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21205.
Brain Research
|September 1, 1988
Summary
Early brain development in mice shows a significant, temporary increase in serotonin (5-HT) levels during the first postnatal week. This surge in serotonin, unlike norepinephrine, suggests a crucial role in shaping the developing neocortex.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Developmental Biology
- Biochemistry
Background:
- Serotonin (5-HT) and norepinephrine (NE) are key neurotransmitters influencing brain development.
- Understanding neurotransmitter dynamics during early postnatal development is crucial for comprehending neocortical formation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To quantify serotonin (5-HT), norepinephrine (NE), and 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid (HIAA) levels during the ontogeny of the frontoparietal cortex in Balb/C mice.
- To investigate the role of transient neurotransmitter changes in early neocortical development.
Main Methods:
- High-pressure liquid chromatography (HPLC) with electrochemical detection was employed for neurotransmitter analysis.
- Measurements were taken during the early postnatal development of the frontoparietal cortex in Balb/C mice.
Main Results:
- Serotonin (5-HT) levels were transiently elevated to over twice the adult concentration during the first postnatal week.
- Norepinephrine (NE) levels did not show a similar transient elevation.
- Increased 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid (HIAA) content, comparable to adult levels, indicated elevated 5-HT release during this period.
Conclusions:
- The transient surge in serotonin (5-HT) during early postnatal development, alongside increased release, likely plays a significant role in shaping neocortical morphogenetic events.
- These findings correlate with previous observations of transient hyperplasia of 5-HT-immunoreactive fibers and uptake sites in the same cortical regions.