Enhanced adrenergic excitation of serotonergic dorsal raphe neurons in genetically obese rats

Serotonergic neurons in the dorsal raphe nucleus (DRN) project to the ventromedial hypothalamus (VMH), where serotonin (5-HT) release modulates feeding. 5-HT release in the VMH is altered in genetically obese vs. lean Zucker rats. Serotonergic DRN neurons are subject to adrenergic and serotonergic n...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Neuroscience letters 2002-10, Vol.332 (2), p.107-110
Main Authors: Ohliger-Frerking, Patricia, Horowitz, John M., Horwitz, Barbara A.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adrenergic alpha-Agonists - pharmacology
Animals
Axons - physiology
Biological and medical sciences
Genotype
In Vitro Techniques
Male
Medical sciences
Membrane Potentials - physiology
Metabolic diseases
Neurons - physiology
Obesity
Obesity - genetics
Obesity - physiopathology
Phenylephrine
Phenylephrine - pharmacology
Raphe Nuclei - cytology
Raphe Nuclei - physiology
Rats
Rats, Zucker
Serotonin
Serotonin - physiology
Space life sciences
Sympathetic Nervous System - physiology
Ventromedial Hypothalamic Nucleus - cytology
Ventromedial Hypothalamic Nucleus - physiology
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Summary:Serotonergic neurons in the dorsal raphe nucleus (DRN) project to the ventromedial hypothalamus (VMH), where serotonin (5-HT) release modulates feeding. 5-HT release in the VMH is altered in genetically obese vs. lean Zucker rats. Serotonergic DRN neurons are subject to adrenergic and serotonergic neuromodulation. To determine if the difference in 5-HT release between lean and obese rats might be due to differences in these neuromodulatory pathways, we examined the effects of phenylephrine (PE) and 5-HT on serotonergic DRN neurons using current-clamp recording. Cells from lean and obese animals responded similarly to 5-HT, but cells from obese rats exhibited both a larger depolarization and increased firing rate in response to PE than did cells from lean rats. This indicates that DRN neurons of obese rats have an enhanced adrenergic drive.
ISSN:0304-3940
1872-7972
DOI:10.1016/S0304-3940(02)00931-X