Developmental expression of 5-HT7 receptor mRNA in rat brain visual structures after neonatal enucleation

Neuroreport. 1997 Apr 14;8(6):1531-5. doi: 10.1097/00001756-199704140-00042.

Abstract

Binocular enucleation is a useful experimental tool for studying mechanisms of neuronal plasticity. Serotonin (5-HT) is a neuromodulator that mediates a wide range of physiological functions by activating multiple receptors. We have performed an in situ hybridization study to analyse in detail the regional distribution of 5-HT7 receptor mRNA expression during postnatal development in different brain visual areas following neonatal binocular enucleation. We found that eye removal clearly induced 5-HT7 receptor mRNA expression in the stratum opticum of superior colliculus, this effect being especially evident at postnatal day 21 (P21). Similarly, there was a clear lesion-induced up-regulation of receptor mRNA expression in the primary visual cortex from P15 through P21. These results suggest a plastic role of 5-HT7 receptor during neurogenesis triggered by eye removal.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Animals, Newborn
  • Eye Enucleation*
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental / physiology*
  • In Situ Hybridization
  • Male
  • Neuronal Plasticity / physiology
  • RNA, Messenger / biosynthesis*
  • Rats
  • Rats, Wistar
  • Receptors, Serotonin / genetics*
  • Vision, Binocular
  • Visual Pathways / metabolism*

Substances

  • RNA, Messenger
  • Receptors, Serotonin