The 5-HT7 receptor influences stereotypic behavior in a model of obsessive-compulsive disorder

Neurosci Lett. 2007 Mar 13;414(3):247-51. doi: 10.1016/j.neulet.2006.12.054. Epub 2007 Jan 11.

Abstract

The 5-HT7 receptor has been suggested as a new putative target for the treatment of neuropsychiatric disorders, especially depression. This hypothesis is based on the finding that antidepressant drugs have relatively high affinity for the 5-HT7 receptor, and that inactivation or blockade of the receptor leads to an antidepressant-like profile in behavioral models and sleep parameters. Obsessive-compulsive disorder is also believed to involve the serotonergic system and is treated using antidepressants, thus it is of interest to study the possible role of the 5-HT7 receptor in this disorder. We have evaluated the effect of inactivation or pharmacological blockade of the 5-HT7 receptor in three mouse behavioral models that are believed to mimic some of the stereotypic aspects of obsessive-compulsive disorder. In the most well-established behavioral model, marble burying, both inactivation and blockade of the 5-HT7 receptor reduced stereotypic behavior in that the number of marbles buried decreased. In two newer, less well-characterized models, head dipping and plastic-mesh screen chewing, there was no difference between wild-type mice and mice lacking the 5-HT7 receptor. Taken together the data confirms and expands on previous findings that the 5-HT7 receptor is of importance for behaviors affected by antidepressants, and suggests that the 5-HT7 receptor might be of relevance as a target for the treatment of obsessive-compulsive disorder.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Behavior, Animal / drug effects
  • Behavior, Animal / physiology
  • Brain / drug effects
  • Brain / metabolism*
  • Brain / physiopathology
  • Brain Chemistry / drug effects
  • Brain Chemistry / genetics*
  • Depressive Disorder, Major / drug therapy
  • Depressive Disorder, Major / metabolism
  • Depressive Disorder, Major / physiopathology
  • Disease Models, Animal
  • Genotype
  • Male
  • Mice
  • Mice, Knockout
  • Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder / genetics
  • Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder / metabolism*
  • Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder / physiopathology
  • Receptors, Serotonin / drug effects
  • Receptors, Serotonin / metabolism*
  • Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors / pharmacology
  • Serotonin / metabolism*
  • Serotonin Antagonists / pharmacology
  • Stereotyped Behavior / drug effects
  • Stereotyped Behavior / physiology*

Substances

  • Receptors, Serotonin
  • Serotonin Antagonists
  • Serotonin Uptake Inhibitors
  • serotonin 7 receptor
  • Serotonin