The role of the dopamine D1 receptor in social cognition: studies using a novel genetic rat model.

Social cognition is an endophenotype that is impaired in schizophrenia and several other (comorbid) psychiatric disorders. One of the modulators of social cognition is dopamine, but its role is not clear. The effects of dopamine are mediated through dopamine receptors, including the dopamine D1 receptor (Drd1). Because current Drd1 receptor agonists are not Drd1 selective, pharmacological tools are not sufficient to delineate the role of the Drd1. Here, we describe a novel rat model with a genetic mutation in Drd1 in which we measured basic behavioural phenotypes and social cognition. The I116S mutation was predicted to render the receptor less stable. In line with this computational prediction, this Drd1 mutation led to a decreased transmembrane insertion of Drd1, whereas Drd1 expression, as measured by Drd1 mRNA levels, remained unaffected. Owing to decreased transmembrane Drd1 insertion, the mutant rats displayed normal basic motoric and neurological parameters, as well as locomotor activity and anxiety-like behaviour. However, measures of social cognition like social interaction, scent marking, pup ultrasonic vocalizations and sociability, were strongly reduced in the mutant rats. This profile of the Drd1 mutant rat offers the field of neuroscience a novel genetic rat model to study a series of psychiatric disorders including schizophrenia, autism, depression, bipolar disorder and drug addiction.

Simultaneous activation of the α1A-, α1B- and α1D-adrenoceptor subtypes in the nucleus accumbens reduces accumbal dopamine efflux in freely moving rats.

Intra-accumbal infusion of the α1-adrenergic agonist methoxamine, which has comparable affinity for α1A-, α1B- and α1D-adrenoceptor subtypes, fails to alter noradrenaline efflux but reduces dopamine efflux in the nucleus accumbens of rats. In-vivo microdialysis experiments were carried out to analyse the putative contribution of α1A-, α1B- and α1D-adrenoceptor subtypes to the methoxamine-induced decrease in accumbal dopamine efflux in freely moving rats. The drugs used were dissolved in the infusion medium and administered locally through a dialysis membrane. Intra-accumbal infusions of the α1A-adrenoceptor antagonist 5-methylurapidil (6 pmol), the α1B-adrenoceptor antagonist cyclazosin (0.6 and 6 pmol) and the α1D-adrenoceptor antagonist BMY 7378 (0.6 pmol) did not alter accumbal efflux of noradrenaline or dopamine: pretreatment with each of these α1-adrenoceptor subtype-selective antagonists counteracted the methoxamine (24 pmol)-induced decrease in accumbal dopamine efflux. Doses indicated are the total amount of drug administered over a 60-min infusion period. These results clearly suggest that the α1A-, α1B- and α1D-adrenoceptor subtypes in the nucleus accumbens mediate the α1-adrenergic agonist methoxamine-induced decrease in accumbal dopamine efflux. The present study also provides in-vivo neurochemical evidence indicating that concomitant, but not separate, activation of the α1A-, α1B- and α1D-adrenoceptors in the nucleus accumbens is required for α1-adrenergic inhibition of accumbal dopaminergic activity.

Accumbal α-adrenoceptors, but not ß-adrenoceptors, regulate behaviour that is mediated by reserpine-sensitive storage vesicles.

It has previously been demonstrated that mesolimbic α-adrenoceptors, but not ß-adrenoceptors, control the release of dopamine that is derived from reserpine-sensitive storage vesicles. The aim of the present study was to investigate whether these storage vesicles also regulate α-adrenoceptor-mediated or ß-adrenoceptor-mediated changes in behaviour. Accordingly, rats were pretreated with reserpine before the α-adrenoceptor antagonist phentolamine or the ß-adrenoceptor agonist isoproterenol was locally applied to the nucleus accumbens. Both phentolamine and isoproterenol increased the duration of walking, rearing and grooming and decreased the duration of sitting. Reserpine counteracted the behavioural response elicited by phentolamine but not by isoproterenol. The results of the present study demonstrate that mesolimbic α-adrenoceptors, but not ß-adrenoceptors, regulate behaviour that is mediated by reserpine-sensitive storage pools. It is hypothesized that the observed α-adrenoceptor-mediated increase in locomotor activity is due to the α-adrenoceptor-mediated increase in the release of accumbal intravesicular dopamine. Our finding that α-adrenoceptors inhibit, whereas ß-adrenoceptors stimulate, locomotor activity may help explain why noradrenaline or environmental stressors have previously been found to have opposing effects on the regulation of behaviour.

Noradrenaline-induced release of newly-synthesized accumbal dopamine: differential role of alpha- and beta-adrenoceptors.

Previous studies have shown that intra-accumbens infusion of isoproterenol (ISO), a beta-adrenoceptor-agonist, and phenylephrine (PE), an alpha-adrenoceptor-agonist, increase the release of accumbal dopamine (DA). In the present study we analyzed whether the ISO-induced release of DA is sensitive to pretreatment with the DA synthesis inhibitor alpha-methyl-para-tyrosine (AMPT). Earlier studies have shown that the PE-induced release of DA is derived from DA pools that are resistant to AMPT. In addition to PE, the alpha-adrenoceptor-antagonist phentolamine (PA) was also found to increase accumbal DA release. Therefore, we investigated whether similar to the DA-increasing effect of PE, the DA increase induced by PA is resistant to AMPT. Pretreatment with AMPT prevented the ISO-induced increase of accumbal DA. The accumbal DA increase after PA was not reduced by the DA synthesis inhibitor, independently of the amount of DA released. These results show that mesolimbic beta-, but not alpha-adrenoceptors, control the release of accumbal newly-synthesized DA pools. The DA-increasing effects of PE have previously been ascribed to stimulation of presynaptic receptors located on noradrenergic terminals, whereas the DA-increasing effects of PA and ISO have been ascribed to an action of these drugs at postsynaptic receptors on dopaminergic terminals. The fact that AMPT did not affect the accumbal DA response to PE and PA, whereas it did prevent the accumbal DA increase to ISO, supports our previously reported hypothesis that the noradrenergic neurons of the nucleus accumbens containing presynaptic alpha-adrenoceptors impinge upon the dopaminergic terminals in the nucleus accumbens containing postsynaptic adrenoceptors of the alpha but not of the beta type. The putative therapeutic effects of noradrenergic agents in the treatment of DA-related disorders are shortly discussed.

Reduced cocaine-induced serotonin, but not dopamine and noradrenaline, release in rats with a genetic deletion of serotonin transporters.

It has recently been proposed that the increased reinforcing properties of cocaine and ecstasy observed in rats with a genetic deletion of serotonin transporters are the result of a reduction in the psychostimulant-induced release of serotonin. Here we provide the neurochemical evidence in favor of this hypothesis and show that changes in synaptic levels of dopamine or noradrenaline are not very likely to play an important role in the previously reported enhanced psychostimulant intake of these serotonin transporter knockout rats. The results may very well explain why human subjects displaying a reduced expression of serotonin transporters have an increased risk to develop addiction.

Maternal care affects the phenotype of a rat model for schizophrenia.

Schizophrenia is a complex mental disorder caused by an interplay between genetic and environmental factors, including early postnatal stressors. To explore this issue, we use two rat lines, apomorphine-susceptible (APO-SUS) rats that display schizophrenia-relevant features and their phenotypic counterpart, apomorphine-unsusceptible (APO-UNSUS) rats. These rat lines differ not only in their gnawing response to apomorphine, but also in their behavioral response to novelty (APO-SUS: high, APO-UNSUS: low). In this study, we examined the effects of early postnatal cross-fostering on maternal care and on the phenotypes of the cross-fostered APO-SUS and APO-UNSUS animals later in life. Cross-fostered APO-UNSUS animals showed decreased body weights as pups and decreased novelty-induced locomotor activity as adults (i.e., more extreme behavior), in accordance with the less appropriate maternal care provided by APO-SUS vs. their own APO-UNSUS mothers (i.e., the APO-SUS mother displayed less non-arched-back nursing and more self-grooming, and was more away from its nest). In contrast, cross-fostered APO-SUS animals showed increased body weights as pups and reduced apomorphine-induced gnawing later in life (i.e., normalization of their extreme behavior), in line with the more appropriate maternal care provided by APO-UNSUS relative to their own APO-SUS mothers (i.e., the APO-UNSUS mother displayed more non-arched-back nursing and similar self-grooming, and was not more away). Furthermore, we found that, in addition to arched-back nursing, non-arched-back nursing was an important feature of maternal care, and that cross-fostering APO-SUS mothers, but not cross-fostering APO-UNSUS mothers, displayed increased apomorphine-induced gnawing. Thus, cross-fostering not only causes early postnatal stress shaping the phenotypes of the cross-fostered animals later in life, but also affects the phenotypes of the cross-fostering mothers.

Synergistic, but not separate, stimulation of accumbal ß1- and ß2-adrenoceptors alters the accumbal dopamine efflux in freely moving rats.

The effects of intra-accumbal infusion of selective agonists for the ß-adrenoceptor subtypes on the noradrenaline and dopamine efflux in the nucleus accumbens of freely moving rats were investigated, using in vivo microdialysis. Neither ß1-(dobutamine: 0.06 and 0.12 pmol) nor ß2-adrenoceptor agonist (salbutamol: 0.36 and 3.6 pmol) altered the basal noradrenaline and dopamine efflux in the nucleus accumbens. Co-administration of 0.06 pmol of dobutamine with salbutamol (3.6 pmol) did not affect the noradrenaline levels, but it increased the dopamine efflux to approximately 120%. Co-administration of 0.12 pmol of dobutamine with salbutamol (0.36 or 3.6pmol) also increased DA efflux to approximately 120% without affecting noradrenaline levels. The non-selective ß-adrenoceptor antagonist l-propranolol (1200 pmol) that did not alter the basal noradrenaline and dopamine levels, suppressed the dopamine efflux, induced by co-administration of dobutamine (0.12 pmol) and salbutamol (3.6 pmol). The doses mentioned are the total amount of drug over the 60-min infusion period. The present results support our previously reported conclusion that stimulation of accumbal ß-adrenoceptors which are suggested to be postsynaptically located on accumbal dopaminergic terminals, can enhance the dopamine efflux in the nucleus accumbens. The present study also provides in vivo neurochemical evidence that concomitant, but not separate, activation of accumbal ß1- and ß2-adrenoceptors synergistically increases the accumbal dopamine efflux.

Nucleus accumbens and dopamine-mediated turning behavior of the rat: role of accumbal non-dopaminergic receptors.

Accumbal dopamine plays an important role in physiological responses and diseases such as schizophrenia, Parkinson's disease, and depression. Since the nucleus accumbens contains different neurotransmitters, it is important to know how they interact with dopaminergic function: this is because modifying accumbal dopamine has far-reaching consequences for the treatment of diseases in which accumbal dopamine is involved. This review provides a summary of these interactions, and our current knowledge about them are as follows: A) AMPA receptors are required for dopamine-dependent behavior and vice versa; NMDA receptors modulate the activity at the level of AMPA and/or dopamine D1 receptors. B) GABA(A), but not GABA(B), receptors inhibit dopamine-dependent behavior. C) Nicotinic receptors are required for dopamine-dependent behavior, whereas muscarinic receptors inhibit dopamine-dependent behavior. D) α-Adrenoceptors inhibit dopamine-dependent behavior in contrast to ß-adrenoceptors, which potentiate this behavior. E) µ- and δ2-opioid receptors elicit behavior that requires an intact dopaminergic function and δ2-opioid receptors modulate dopamine-dependent behavior. F) Orexin 2 receptors play an important, modifying role in dopamine-dependent behavior. G) Somatostatin receptors potentiate dopamine-dependent behavior. It is suggested that modulation of the above-mentioned non-dopaminergic receptors provide new tools to control physiological functions as well as diseases mediated by accumbal dopamine.

The α1-, but not α2-, adrenoceptor in the nucleus accumbens plays an inhibitory role upon the accumbal noradrenaline and dopamine efflux of freely moving rats.

In vivo microdialysis was used to analyse the role of the α(1)- and α(2)-adrenoceptor subtypes in the regulation of noradrenaline and dopamine efflux in the nucleus accumbens of freely moving rats. Intra-accumbal infusion of α(1)-adrenoceptor agonist methoxamine (24pmol) failed to alter the noradrenaline efflux, but decreased the dopamine efflux. The intra-accumbal infusion of α(1)-adrenoceptor antagonist prazosin (6, 600 and 6000pmol) produced a dose-related increase and decrease of the noradrenaline and dopamine efflux, respectively. An ineffective dose of prazosin (6pmol) counteracted the methoxamine (24pmol)-induced decrease of dopamine efflux. The prazosin (6000pmol)-induced increase of noradrenaline efflux, but not the decrease of dopamine efflux, was suppressed by the co-administration of an ineffective dose of methoxamine (0.024pmol). Neither the α(2)-adrenoceptor agonist clonidine (300pmol) and UK 14,304 (300pmol) nor the α(2)-adrenoceptor antagonist RX 821002 (0.6, 3, 600 and 6000pmol) significantly affected the accumbal noradrenaline and dopamine efflux. The doses mentioned are the total amount of drug over the 60-min infusion period. The present results show that (1) accumbal α(1)-adrenoceptors which are presynaptically located on noradrenergic nerve terminals inhibit the accumbal noradrenaline efflux, increasing thereby the accumbal dopamine efflux, (2) accumbal α(1)-adrenoceptors which are postsynaptically located on dopaminergic nerve terminals inhibit the accumbal dopamine efflux, and (3) accumbal α(2)-adrenoceptors play no major role in the regulation of accumbal efflux of noradrenaline and dopamine.

In vivo neurochemical evidence that newly synthesised GABA activates GABA(B), but not GABA(A), receptors on dopaminergic nerve endings in the nucleus accumbens of freely moving rats.

GABA released from accumbal GABAergic interneurons plays an inhibitory role in the regulation of dopamine efflux through GABA(B) and GABA(A) receptors located on accumbal dopaminergic nerve endings. The cytosolic newly synthesised GABA alters vesicular GABA levels and, accordingly, the amount of GABA released from the neuron. Therefore, we hypothesised that glutamic acid decarboxylase (GAD) which generates GABA in accumbal GABAergic neurons, at least partly determines the GABA receptor subtype-mediated GABAergic tonus. To (in)validate this hypothesis, in vivo microdialysis was used to study the effects of an intra-accumbal infusion of the GAD inhibitor l-allylglycine (allylglycine) on the accumbal dopamine efflux of freely moving rats. The intra-accumbal infusion of allylglycine (50.0, 250.0 and 500.0 nmol) dose-dependently increased the accumbal dopamine levels. The co-administration of tetrodotoxin (720 pmol) suppressed the allylglycine (500.0 nmol)-induced dopamine efflux. The intra-accumbal infusion of GABA(B) receptor agonist baclofen (2.5 and 5.0 nmol) inhibited the allylglycine (500.0 nmol)-induced dopamine efflux. The baclofen's effects were counteracted by GABA(B) receptor antagonist saclofen (10.0 nmol). Neither GABA(A) receptor agonist (muscimol: 25.0 and 250.0 pmol) nor antagonist (bicuculline: 50.0 pmol) altered the allylglycine (250.0 and 500.0 nmol)-induced dopamine efflux. The present study provides in vivo neurochemical evidence that newly synthesised GABA that exerts an inhibitory tonus on the accumbal dopaminergic activity, acts at the level of GABA(B) receptors, but not GABA(A) receptors. The present study also shows that there is an allylglycine-insensitive GABA pool that release GABA exerting an inhibitory control of the accumbal dopaminergic activity, at the level of GABA(A) receptors. This article is part of a Special Issue entitled 'Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder'.

Reserpine differentially affects cocaine-induced behavior in low and high responders to novelty.

Individuals are known to differ in their sensitivity to cocaine. Cocaine is known to inhibit the re-uptake of monoamines. The response to cocaine has also been found to depend on monoamines inside reserpine-sensitive storage vesicles. The present study examined the effects of reserpine (1-2 mg/kg) on cocaine-induced behavior (10-15 mg/kg) in Low Responders (LR) and High Responders (HR) to novelty rats. LR displayed less cocaine-induced walking, wall rearing, free rearing and stereotyped behavior than HR did. The dose of 1 mg/kg of reserpine decreased cocaine-induced walking, wall rearing, free rearing and stereotyped behavior in LR, but not in HR. A dose of 2 mg/kg of reserpine was required to inhibit cocaine-induced behavior in HR. Combining these behavioral findings with our previously reported neurochemical finding that a higher dose of reserpine was required to inhibit the accumbal dopamine response to cocaine in HR than in LR (Verheij et al., 2008), suggests that HR are more sensitive to the behavioral effects of cocaine than LR because cocaine can release more monoamines from storage vesicles in HR than in LR. Our behavioral data also demonstrate that the individual differences in sensitivity to reserpine are not only limited to the dopaminergic system of the nucleus accumbens.

Dopamine D1-like receptors play only a minor role in the increase of striatal dopamine induced by striatally applied SKF38393.

We studied the effects of the intra-striatal infusion of Ca(2+)-free medium on the intra-striatal injection of 0.5 µg SKF38393-induced striatal dopamine efflux. It is discussed that the amount of extracellular, striatal dopamine seen after striatally applied SKF38393, is the overall result of the (a) release of dopamine from the alpha-methyl-para-tyrosine-sensitive and Ca(2+)-insensitive pool of newly synthesised dopamine, (b) release of dopamine from the reserpine-sensitive and Ca(2+)-sensitive storage pool, (c) inhibition of uptake of dopamine into nerve terminals and glial cells, and (d) facilitation respectively of the inhibition of uptake into blood vessels: dopamine D1-like receptors play only a very limited role in these processes. The present study underlines our previous notion that the effects of SKF38393 cannot simply be ascribed to the dopamine D1-like receptor stimulation (Saigusa et al., 2009): in fact, the present study clearly reveals that SKF38393 is not at all selective in that respect.

Blockade of dopamine, but not noradrenaline, transporters produces hyperthermia in rats that lack serotonin transporters.

To investigate whether life-long disturbed serotonin neurotransmission may result in adaptive changes of dopaminergic and noradrenergic systems, effects of drugs on stress-induced hyperthermia were studied in serotonin transporter knockout rats. The noradrenalin transporter blocker atomoxetine was more effective in reducing stress-induced hyperthermia, induced by an injection, in serotonin transporter (SERT) knockout (SERT(-/-)) rats compared to SERT(+/+) rats. The dopamine transporter blocker GBR12909 increased the core body temperature in SERT(-/-) rats, and had no effect on the SERT(+/+) rats. Finally, the noradrenalin transporter together with dopamine transporter blocker bupropion was more effective in decreasing the stress of an injection in SERT(-/-) rats than in SERT(+/+) rats. These data suggest that the sensitivity of dopamine and noradrenalin receptors is changed in serotonin transporter knockout rats. The lack of the serotonin transporter in SERT(-/-) rats might reflect humans with a life-long disturbed serotonin system, making this rat a good model to study possible changes in dopaminergic and noradrenergic systems in psychiatric disorders.

Contribution of vesicular and cytosolic dopamine to the increased striatal dopamine efflux elicited by intrastriatal injection of SKF38393.

Like dexamphetamine, SKF38393 induces an increase in striatal dopamine efflux which is insensitive for tetrodotoxin, Ca(2+) independent and prevented by a dopamine transporter inhibitor. The dexamphetamine-induced striatal dopamine efflux originates from both the reserpine-sensitive vesicular dopamine pool and the alpha-methyl-para-tyrosine-sensitive cytosolic dopamine pool. Given the similarities between dexamphetamine and SKF38393, we hypothesized that both types of pool also contribute to the striatally applied SKF38393-induced dopamine efflux. Using in vivo microdialysis technique, we analysed the contribution of these pools to the SKF38393-induced striatal dopamine efflux in freely moving rats. The increase of dopamine efflux induced by 1.5 microg SKF38393 was largely prevented by either reserpine (5mg/kg i.p., given 24h earlier) or alpha-methyl-para-tyrosine (250 mg/kg i.p., given 2h earlier), showing that both the vesicular dopamine pool and the cytosolic dopamine pool contribute to the SKF38393-induced increase in striatal dopamine efflux. The sum of the amounts of dopamine that was sensitive to either reserpine or alpha-methyl-para-tyrosine, was greater than 100%, namely 137.6% of the basal dopamine level and 143.9% of the SKF38393-induced dopamine level, suggesting that striatally applied SKF38393 promotes the redistribution of dopamine from vesicles to the cytosol, and vice versa. The finding that the combined treatment of reserpine and alpha-methyl-para-tyrosine only inhibited the SKF38393-induced striatal dopamine efflux till 86.0% of the control, is ascribed to the notion that SKF38393 can also inhibit the re-uptake of dopamine. The latter conclusion has far-reaching consequences for studies in which the effects of SKF38393 are simply ascribed to its dopamine D1 receptor stimulation capacity.

Individual differences in the sensitivity to serotonergic drugs: a pharmacobehavioural approach using rats selected on the basis of their response to novelty.

RATIONALE: The mechanisms underlying individual differences in the response to serotonergic drugs are poorly understood. Rat studies may contribute to our knowledge of the neuronal substrates that underlie these individual differences. OBJECTIVES: A pharmacobehavioural study was performed to assess individual differences in the sensitivity to serotonergic drugs in rats that were selected based on their response to a novel environment. METHODS: Low responders (LR) and high responders (HR) to novelty rats were tested on the elevated T-maze following systemic injections of increasing doses of various serotonergic agents. The duration of avoidance of the open arms was scored for five trials. RESULTS: The duration of avoidance behaviour was larger in saline-treated LR rats compared to saline-treated HR rats. The 5-HT1A agonist 8-OH-DPAT and the 5-HT2 agonists mCPP and DOI decreased the duration of avoidance behaviour in LR rats, but increased it in HR rats. The 5-HT3 agonist SR57227A and the 5-HT releaser/reuptake inhibitor d-fenfluramine increased the duration of avoidance behaviour in both types of rat. However, higher doses of SR57227A were required to alter avoidance behaviour in HR than in LR rats. The onset of the effects of SR57227A, d-fenfluramine and WAY100635 was faster in LR than in HR rats. The described effects were receptor specific. A model explaining the data is presented. CONCLUSIONS: These data demonstrate that LR and HR rats differ in their sensitivity to serotonergic drugs that act at 5-HT3, 5-HT2 and 5-HT1A receptors. The implications of these individual differences for individual-specific treatment of substance abuse are briefly discussed.

The reboxetine-induced increase of accumbal dopamine efflux is inhibited by l-propranolol: a microdialysis study with freely moving rats.

In vivo microdialysis was used to study the effects of the locally applied selective noradrenaline uptake inhibitor reboxetine on the baseline noradrenaline and dopamine efflux in the nucleus accumbens of freely moving rats. The effects of intra-accumbal infusion of the beta-adrenoceptor antagonist l-propranolol on the reboxetine-elicited noradrenaline and dopamine efflux in the nucleus accumbens were also analysed. The intra-accumbal infusion of reboxetine (1.2 and 12 pmol) significantly increased both the accumbal noradrenaline efflux and the accumbal dopamine efflux. The intra-accumbal infusion of the chosen doses of l-propranolol (300 and 1200 pmol) did not alter the accumbal noradrenaline and dopamine efflux. The l-propranolol treatment did not affect the reboxetine-elicited accumbal noradrenaline efflux, but it significantly inhibited the reboxetine-elicited increase of accumbal dopamine efflux. The doses mentioned are the total amount of drug over the infusion period that varied across the drugs (60 or 120 min). The present study shows that the intra-accumbal infusion of selective noradrenaline uptake inhibitor reboxetine increases noradrenaline as well as dopamine efflux in the nucleus accumbens of freely moving rats. This study also indicates that inhibition of accumbal beta-adrenoceptors prevented the increase of the reboxetine-induced accumbal dopamine efflux. It is suggested that the reboxetine-induced increase of the endogenous accumbal noradrenaline activates among others accumbal beta-adrenoceptors that, in turn, stimulate the accumbal release of dopamine.

Stress-induced hyperthermia and basal body temperature are mediated by different 5-HT(1A) receptor populations: a study in SERT knockout rats.

Disturbances in the serotonergic system are implicated in many central nervous system disorders. The serotonin transporter (SERT) regulates the serotonin homeostasis in the synapse. We recently developed a rat which lacks the serotonin transporter (SERT(-/-)). It is likely that adaptive changes take place at the level of pre- and postsynaptic 5-HT receptors. Because autonomic responses are often used to measure 5-HT(1A) receptor function, we analysed these responses by examining the effects of a 5-HT(1A) receptor agonist and antagonist under in vivo conditions in the SERT(-/-) rat. Moreover, we studied the effect of a mild stressor on the body temperature (stress-induced hyperthermia) because of the known involvement of 5-HT(1A) receptors in this phenomenon. Results show that core body temperature did not differ between genotypes under basal, non-stressed conditions. Compared to SERT(+/+) rats, stress-induced hyperthermia was reduced in SERT(-/-) rats. The 5-HT(1A) receptor agonist [R(+)-N-(2[4-(2,3-dihydro-2-2-hydroxy-methyl-1,4-benzodioxin-5-yl)-1-piperazininyl]ethyl)-4-fluorobenzoamide HCl (flesinoxan) reduced stress-induced hyperthermia in both genotypes. The flesinoxan-induced hypothermia in SERT(+/+) rats was blocked by the 5-HT(1A) receptor antagonist [N-(2-[4-(2-methoxyphenyl)-1-piperazinyl]ethyl)-N-(2-pyridinyl) cyclohexane carboxamide 3HCl (WAY100635). Moreover, WAY100635-induced hyperthermia in SERT(-/-), but not in SERT(+/+) rats. In SERT(-/-) rats, WAY100635 completely blocked the flesinoxan-induced reduction of stress-induced hyperthermia. Interestingly, flesinoxan-induced hypothermia was absent in SERT(-/-) rats. It is concluded that the SERT knockout rat reveals that 5-HT(1A) receptors modulating stress-induced hyperthermia belong to a population of receptors that differs from that involved in hypothermia.

Adaptations in pre- and postsynaptic 5-HT1A receptor function and cocaine supersensitivity in serotonin transporter knockout rats.

RATIONALE: While individual differences in vulnerability to psychostimulants have been largely attributed to dopaminergic neurotransmission, the role of serotonin is not fully understood. OBJECTIVES: To study the rewarding and motivational properties of cocaine in the serotonin transporter knockout (SERT-/-) rat and the involvement of compensatory changes in 5-HT1A receptor function are the objectives of the study. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The SERT-/- rat was tested for cocaine-induced locomotor activity, cocaine-induced conditioned place preference, and intravenous cocaine self-administration. In addition, the function and expression of 5-HT1A receptors was assessed using telemetry and autoradiography, respectively, and the effect of 5-HT1A receptor ligands on cocaine's psychomotor effects were studied. RESULTS: Cocaine-induced hyperactivity and conditioned place preference, as well as intravenous cocaine self-administration were enhanced in SERT-/- rats. Furthermore, SERT-/- rats displayed a reduced hypothermic response to the 5-HT1A receptor agonist 8-OHDPAT. S-15535, a selective somatodendritic 5-HT1A receptor agonist, reduced stress-induced hyperthermia (SIH) in wild-type controls (SERT+/+), while it increased SIH in SERT-/- rats. As 5-HT1A receptor binding was reduced in selective brain regions, these thermal responses may be indicative for desensitized 5-HT1A receptors. We further found that both 8-OHDPAT and S-15535 pretreatment increased low-dose cocaine-induced locomotor activity in SERT-/- rats, but not SERT+/+ rats. At a high cocaine dose, only SERT+/+ animals responded to 8-OHDPAT and S-15535. CONCLUSION: These data indicate that SERT-/- -associated 5-HT1A receptor adaptations facilitate low-dose cocaine effects and attenuate high-dose cocaine effects in cocaine supersensitive animals. The role of postsynaptic and somatodendritic 5-HT1A receptors is discussed.

Twenty years of dopamine research: individual differences in the response of accumbal dopamine to environmental and pharmacological challenges.

Individual differences in the dopaminergic system of the nucleus accumbens of rats have extensively been reported. These individual differences have frequently been used to explain individual differences in response to environmental and pharmacological challenges. Remarkably, only little attention is paid to the factors that underlie these individual differences. This review gives an overview of the studies that have been performed in our institute during the last 20 years to investigate individual differences in accumbal dopamine release. Data are summarised demonstrating that individual differences in accumbal dopamine release are due to individual differences in: the functional reactivity of the noradrenergic system, the accumbal concentration of vesicular monoamine transporters and tyrosine hydroxylase as well as in the quantal size of the presynaptic pools of dopamine. Our data are embedded in the available literature to create a model that illustrates the putative hardware giving rise to the individual-specific release of accumbal dopamine. An important role is contributed to individual differences in the reactivity of the: hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axes, the reactivity of second messenger systems as well in the aminergic reactivity of the accumbens shell and core. The consequences of the individual-specific make-up and reactivity of the nucleus accumbens on the regulation of behaviour and the response to drugs of abuse will also be discussed. Apart from agents that interact with dopaminergic receptors, re-uptake or breakdown, noradrenergic agents as well as agents that interact with vesicular monoamine transporters or tyrosine hydroxylase are suggested to have therapeutic effects in subjects that are suffering from diseases in which the dopaminergic system is disturbed.