The effects of corticosterone on 5-HT receptor function in rodents

• Published in: Neuropharmacology Vol. 31; no. 5; p. 433
• Main Authors: Young, A H, MacDonald, L M, St John, H, Dick, H, Goodwin, G M
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England 01.05.1992
• Subjects: 5-Hydroxytryptophan - pharmacology; 8-Hydroxy-2-(di-n-propylamino)tetralin; Animals; Body Temperature - drug effects; Corticosterone - metabolism; Corticosterone - pharmacology; Indoles - pharmacology; Male; Methoxydimethyltryptamines - pharmacology; Mice; Rats; Rats, Inbred Strains; Receptors, Serotonin - drug effects; Stereotyped Behavior - drug effects; Tetrahydronaphthalenes - pharmacology; Weight Gain - drug effects
• ISSN: 0028-3908
• DOI: 10.1016/0028-3908(92)90080-9

In the mouse, administration of corticosterone-21-acetate (30 mg/kg, s.c. daily) for 3 and 10 days produced an attenuation of the hypothermic response to the 5-HT1A receptor agonist 8-hydroxy-2-(di-n-propylamino)tetralin (8-OH-DPAT), which was not present after administration for 1 day. A similar effect was observed in the rat after administration of corticosterone-21-acetate (30 mg/kg, s.c. daily) for 10 days. Mice which had been given corticosterone for 10 days displayed the serotonin syndrome when injected with 5-hydroxytryptophan (5-HTP, 100 mg/kg, s.c.), 15 min after injection of carbidopa (25 mg/kg, i.p.). This was not seen in control animals. The serotonin syndrome was also induced in mice using 8-OH-DPAT; this increased in a dose-dependent manner and could be significantly decreased by pre-treatment with 1-(2-methoxyphenyl)-4-(4-phthalimidobutyl)-piperazine (NAN-190 5 mg/kg, i.p., 30 min prior to administration of 8-OH-DPAT), a 5-HT1A receptor antagonist. Administration of corticosterone (30 mg/kg, s.c. daily) did not significantly alter the serotonin syndrome induced in treated mice, compared with controls. Mice pre-treated for 3 or 10 days with corticosterone did not differ from controls in the number of head-twitches induced by 5-HTP and carbidopa or 5-methoxy-N,N-dimethyltryptamine, nor did they differ from controls in their response to the putative 5-HT1B agonist 5-methoxy-3 (1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridin-4-yl)1-H indole (RU 24969, 3 mg/kg, i.p.).