Cerebral Cortex March 2004; 14:281-299
© Oxford University Press 2004
Co-expression and In Vivo Interaction of Serotonin1A and Serotonin2A Receptors in Pyramidal Neurons of Prefrontal Cortex
1 Department of Neurochemistry, Institut d’Investigacions Biomèdiques de Barcelona (CSIC), IDIBAPs, 08036 Barcelona, Spain, 2 Department of Pharmacology, Weill Medical College, Cornell University, New York, USA, \|[ast ]\| The first three authors contributed equally to this study
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Abstract |
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The prefrontal cortex plays a key role in the control of higher brain functions and is involved in the pathophysiology and treatment of schizophrenia. Here we report that
60% of the neurons in rat and mouse prefrontal cortex express 5-HT1A and/or 5-HT2A receptor mRNAs, which are highly co-localized (80%). The electrical stimulation of the dorsal and median raphe nuclei elicited 5-HT1A-mediated inhibitions and 5-HT2A-mediated excitations in identified pyramidal neurons recorded extracellularly in rat medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC). Opposite responses in the same pyramidal neuron could be evoked by stimulating the raphe nuclei at different coordinates, suggesting a precise connectivity between 5-HT neuronal subgroups and 5-HT1A and 5-HT2A receptors in pyramidal neurons. Microdialysis experiments showed that the increase in local 5-HT release evoked by the activation of 5-HT2A receptors in mPFC by DOI (5-HT2A/2C receptor agonist) was reversed by co-perfusion of 5-HT1A agonists. This inhibitory effect was antagonized by WAY-100635 and the prior inactivation of 5-HT1A receptors in rats and was absent in mice lacking 5-HT1A receptors. These observations help to clarify the interactions between the mPFC and the raphe nuclei, two key areas in psychiatric illnesses and improve our understanding of the action of atypical antipsychotics, acting through these 5-HT receptors.
Key Words: 5-HT1A receptors, 5-HT2A receptors, antipsychotics, medial prefrontal cortex, pyramidal neurons
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Introduction |
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TopAbstractIntroductionMaterials and MethodsResultsDiscussionNotesReferences |
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The prefrontal cortex is involved in higher brain functions such as working memory or behavioral inhibition (Fuster, 2001
; Miller and Cohen, 2001). Its medial aspect in rodents (medial prefrontal cortex, mPFC) controls, via the excitatory axons of pyramidal neurons, the activity of many subcortical areas, including the midbrain aminergic nuclei [ventral tegmental area (VTA), raphe nuclei and locus coeruleus] which, in turn, project back to the prefrontal cortex (Groenewegen and Uylings, 2000). Prefrontal function and metabolism is altered in patients with severe psychiatric disorders (Weinberger et al., 1994; Andreasen et al., 1997; Drevets, 2001) and cognitive deficits in schizophrenia patients are mediated by derangements in brain circuits involving the prefrontal cortex (Bertolino et al., 2000; Elvevag and Goldberg, 2000). Consistent with the pivotal role of dopamine in prefrontal function (Glowinski et al., 1984; Williams and Goldman-Rakic, 1995; Goldman-Rakic, 1996; Robbins, 2000; O'Donnell, 2003), neuroimaging studies have revealed abnormalities in the ascending dopamine pathways in schizophrenia (Laruelle et al., 1996; Abi-Dargham et al., 2002). Also, a reduced density of dopamine axons in deep cortical layers has been reported in post-mortem samples from schizophrenic patients (Akil et al., 2000).
Less is known, however, on the role of serotonin (5-hydroxytryptamine, 5-HT) in prefrontal function, despite the fact that this area is innervated by 5-HT axons and is highly enriched in various receptors, notably the 5-HT1A and 5-HT2A subtypes (Azmitia and Segal, 1978; Pazos and Palacios, 1985; Pazos et al., 1985; Blue et al., 1988; Pompeiano et al., 1992, 1994; Hall et al., 2000; Talvik-Lotfi et al., 2000; Martinez et al., 2001; Arango et al., 2002). Clues about a role for serotonergic transmission — and in particular, of 5-HT1A and 5-HT2A receptors — in the normal and pathological function of the prefrontal cortex are numerous, such as (i) some hallucinogens (e.g. LSD, DOI) are 5-HT2A agonists and atypical antipsychotics are 5-HT2A antagonists (Kroeze and Roth, 1998; Meltzer, 1999), (ii) prefrontal 5-HT2A receptors are involved in working memory (Williams et al., 2002), (iii) 5-HT1A receptors are involved in anxiety (Heisler et al., 1998; Parks et al., 1998) and learning (Harder and Ridley, 2000) and (iv) some 5-HT receptors are abnormal in the frontal lobes of psychiatric patients (Arango et al., 1997; Sargent et al., 2000; Gurevich et al., 2002). Furthermore, 5-HT1A and 5-HT2A receptors mediate the changes in prefrontal dopamine release induced by atypical antipsychotics (Ichikawa et al., 2001).
Both receptors are expressed by pyramidal neurons (Kia et al., 1996; Willins et al., 1997; Jakab and Goldman-Rakic, 1998, 2000; De Felipe et al., 2001; Martín-Ruiz et al., 2001). 5-HT2A receptors are also present in GABA interneurons (Willins et al., 1997; Jakab and Goldman-Rakic, 2000) and putative catecholaminergic axons in mPFC (Miner et al., 2003). 5-HT1A and 5-HT2A receptors mediate, respectively, the hyperpolarizing and depolarizing actions of 5-HT on prefrontal neurons in vitro, although both actions have been reported for 5-HT2A receptors (Araneda and Andrade, 1991; Tanaka and North, 1993; Aghajanian and Marek, 1997, 1999; Zhou and Hablitz, 1999). Given the potential relevance of both receptors in the function of the prefrontal cortex, we studied their possible co-expression in prefrontal neurons and the effects of their in vivo activation at cellular and circuit level in the brain of rats and mice. Additional interest to study the localization and function of such receptors in prefrontal cortex stems from the observations that (i) mPFC pyramidal neurons project to the ventral tegmental area (Thierry et al., 1983), including those sensitive to the 5-HT2A/2C agonist 1-[2,5-dimethoxy-4-iodophenyl-2-aminopropane] (DOI; Puig et al., 2003) and (ii) the firing and terminal release of dopamine cells in the VTA is controlled by 5-HT1A and 5-HT2A receptors (Lejeune and Millan, 1998; Ichikawa et al., 2001). Overall, a better knowledge of the localization and function of both receptors in prefrontal cortex may improve our understanding of the pathophysiology and treatment of schizophrenia.
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Materials and Methods |
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Drugs
5-HT oxalate, 8-hydroxy-2-(di-n-propylamino) tetralin (8-OH-DPAT), alpha-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazole-4-propionate [(s)-AMPA], buspirone, cirazoline, DOI, N-ethoxycarbonyl-2-ethoxy-1,2-dihydroquinoline (EEDQ), mianserin, pargyline, pertussis toxin, ritanserin and N-[2-(4-(2-methoxyphenyl)-1-piperazinyl)ethyl]-N-(2-pyridyl) cyclohexane carboxamide·3HCl (WAY-100635) were from Sigma/RBI (Natick, MA). Alnespirone (S-20499) was from Institut de Recherches Internationales Servier. R-(–)-2-{4-[(chroman-2-ylmethyl)-amino]-butyl}-1,1-dioxo-benzo[d]isothiazolone·HCl (BAY x 3702)and ipsapirone were from Bayer AG. Citalopram·HBr was from Lundbeck A/S and R-(+)-alpha-(2,3-dimethoxyphenyl)-1-[4-fluorophenylethyl]-4-piperidinemethanol (M100907; Lilly code LY 368675) and fluoxetine were from Eli Lilly & Co.
For the assessment of local effects in microdialysis experiments, drugs were dissolved in the perfusion fluid and applied by reverse dialysis at the stated concentrations. Concentrated solutions (1 mM; pH adjusted to 6.5–7 with NaHCO3 when necessary) were stored at –80°C and working solutions were prepared daily by dilution in artificial cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). Concentrations are expressed as free bases. The concentrations of 5-HT1A receptor agonists were chosen according to their relative affinity and intrinsic efficacy for 5-HT1A receptors (BAY x 3702 > 8-OH-DPAT > buspirone 
ipsapirone alnespirone). Table 1 shows the drugs used and their primary pharmacological activity. The concentrations of DOI and AMPA were chosen from previous data (Martín-Ruiz et al., 2001). Control rats and mice were perfused for the entire experiment with artificial CSF. The bars in the figures show the period of drug application (corrected for the void volume of the system). In electrophysiological experiments, drugs were administered i.v. and the effects were assessed in one neuron per animal. After this procedure was completed, animals were killed by an overdose of anesthetic.
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Animals
Male albino Wistar rats weighing 250–320 g and C57BL/6 mice, 10–12 weeks old at the time of experiments, were used (Iffa Credo, Lyon, France). 5-HT1A receptor knockout KO(–/–) mice (referred onwards as KO) had the same genetic background than their wild-type (WT) counterparts (C57BL/6) and were engendered as previously generated at Princenton University (Parks et al., 1998). From this initial source a stable colony was grown in the animal facility of the University of Barcelona School of Medicine. Animals were kept in a controlled environment (12 h light–dark cycle and 22 ± 2°C room temperature) with food and water provided ad libitum. Animal care followed the European Union regulations (O.J. of E.C. L358/1 18/12/1986) and was approved by the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee.
Stereotaxic coordinates were taken from bregma and duramater according to the atlas of Paxinos and Watson (1998) for rat and Franklin and Paxinos (1997) for mouse. Additionally, we used the brain maps (Swanson, 1998) for nomenclature of the cortical areas. The location of probes and stimulation electrodes was verified histologically.
Tissue Preparation
Frozen whole brains from rats and from 5-HT1A receptor KO and WT mice were used. Tissue sections, 14 µm thick, were cut using a microtome-cryostat (HM500-OM Microm, Walldorf, Germany), thaw-mounted onto 3-aminopropyltriethoxysilane (APTS; Sigma, St Louis; MO)-coated slides, and kept at –20°C until use.
Synthesis of Hybridization Probes
Different oligonucleotides were used to detect 5-HT1A and 5-HT2A receptor mRNA in rat brain (Pompeiano et al., 1992, 1994). Four oligonucleotides complementary to different regions of the mRNA coding for the rat 5-HT1A receptor were used simultaneously, corresponding to the 5' untranslated region (bases 82–122), amino terminus (bases 123–171), third cytoplasmic loop (bases 885–933) and carboxy terminus (bases 1341–1389) (Albert et al., 1990). Three oligonucleotides complementary to the mRNA coding for 5-HT2A receptor, corresponding to the amino terminus (bases 669–716), third cytoplasmic loop (bases 1882–1520) and carboxy terminus (bases 1913–1960) (Pritchett et al., 1988) were used. Probes were synthesized on a 380 Applied Biosystem DNA synthesizer (Foster City Biosystem, Foster City, CA) and purified on a 20% polyacrylamide/8 M urea preparative sequencing gel.
Each 5-HT2A receptor oligodeoxyribonucleotide (2 pmol) was individually labeled at its 3' end with [33P]
-dATP (>3000 Ci/mmol; Amersham Pharmacia Biotech, Little Chalfont, UK) using terminal deoxynucleotidyltransferase (TdT; Roche Diagnostics GmbH, Mannheim, Germany). Labeled probes were purified through QIAquick Nucleotide Removal columns (QIAGEN GmbH, Hilden, Germany). The four 5-HT1A receptor mRNA probes (100 pmol of each) (Pompeiano et al., 1992) were labeled by 3'-end tailing with TdT and digoxigenin-11-dUTP (Roche Diagnostics GmbH). Digoxigenin (Dig)-labeled oligonucleotides were purified as mentioned above.
In Situ Hybridization Histochemistry Procedure
The protocol for double-label in situ hybridization histochemistry was based on previously described procedures (Tomiyama et al., 1997; Landry et al., 2000) and has been reported elsewhere (Serrats et al., 2003). For hybridization, the radioactively labeled and Dig-labeled probes were pooled at final individual concentrations of 1.5 nM. Dig-labeled 5-HT1A hybridized oligonucleotides were visualized with alkaline-phosphate-conjugated anti-digoxigenin-F(ab) fragment antibody color reaction. Sections were then dipped into Ilford K5 nuclear track emulsion (Ilford, Mobberly, UK), exposed in the dark at 4°C for 6 weeks and then developed.
Tissue sections were examined in a Wild 420 macroscope (Leica, Heerbrugg, Germany) and in a Nikon Eclipse E1000 microscope (Nikon, Tokyo, Japan) equipped with bright- and dark-field condensers for transmitted light. Micrography was performed using a digital camera (DXM1200 3.0, Nikon) and analysis software (soft Imaging system GmbH, Münster, Germany). 5-HT1A mRNA positive neurons were identified as cellular profiles showing dark staining (alkaline phosphatase reaction product) clearly distinguishable from background. 5-HT2A mRNA positive neurons were identified as aggregations of grouped silver grains that were at least three times greater than background. Figures were prepared for publication using Adobe Photoshop software (Adobe Software, Mountain View, CA).
Nissl staining
The cytoarchitecture of the rat and mouse prefrontal cortex was analyzed in an adjacent series of cresyl violet stained frozen sections. Nomenclature used follows that in Franklin and Paxinos (1997), Paxinos and Watson (1998) and Swanson (1998).
Receptor Autoradiography
[3H]WAY-100635 (80.0 Ci/mmol) was purchased from Amersham and [3H]ketanserine (80.9 Ci/mmol) from DuPont NEN (Boston, MA). The experimental incubation conditions for [3H]8-OH-DPAT were as previously described (Mengod et al., 1996). Nonspecific binding was defined as that remaining in the presence of 10–5 M 5-HT. The incubation conditions for [3H]ketanserine were as described previously (Pazos et al., 1987; López-Giménez et al., 1997). Nonspecific binding was defined as that remaining in the presence of 10–5 M mianserine. After incubation and washing, tissue sections were dipped in distilled ice-cold water and dried rapidly under a cold air stream. Tissues were exposed to tritium-sensitive film (Kodak Biomax MS; Kodak, Rochester, NY) together with plastic 3H-standards (3H-microscales; Amersham). Exposure time was 15 days for [3H]ketanserine and 30 days for [3H]8-OH-DPAT. All tissue sections used for quantification of receptor sites were processed simultaneously and in the same experimental conditions. Quantitative analysis of the autoradiograms was done with a computerized image analysis system (MCID, St Catharines, Ontario, Canada).
Single Unit Recordings of Pyramidal Neurons in Rat mPFC
These experiments were aimed at examining the responses elicited in pyramidal neurons of the mPFC by the electrical stimulation of the dorsal raphe (DR) and/or median raphe (MnR) nuclei. Rats were anesthetized (chloral hydrate 400 mg/kg i.p.) and positioned in a David Kopf stereotaxic frame. Additional doses of chloral hydrate (80 mg/kg) were administered i.v. through the femoral vein. Body temperature was maintained at 37°C throughout the experiment with a heating pad. All wound margins and points of contact between the animal and the stereotaxic apparatus were infiltrated with lidocaine solution (5%). In order to minimize pulsation, the atlanto-occipital membrane was punctured to release some CSF.
Bipolar stimulating electrodes consisted of two stainless steel enamel-coated wires (California Fine Wire, Grover Beach, CA) with a diameter of 150 µm and a tip separation of 100 µm and in vitro impedances of 10–30 K
. Stimulating electrodes were stereotaxically implanted in two different coordinates within the DR (AP –7.8, L 0, DV –6.5; and AP –7.3, L –2.2 with a lateral angle of 20°, DV –6.6 mm) and one in the MnR (AP –7.8, L 2.0 with a lateral angle of 13°, DV –8.8 mm). These angles resulted in the tip of the electrodes at DV –6.2 and –8.6 mm, respectively. After each implant, each electrode was secured to the skull with glue and dental cement. Constant current electrical stimuli were generated with a Grass S-48 stimulation unit connected to a Grass SIU 5 stimulus isolation unit. Stimulating current was typically 0.15–2 mA, 0.2 ms square pulses at 0.9 Hz. Pyramidal neurons were recorded extracellularly with glass micropipettes pulled from 2.0 mm capillary glass (WPI, Saratosa, FL) on a Narishige PE-2 pipette puller (Narishige Science Institute, Tokyo, Japan). Microelectrodes were filled with 2 M NaCl. Typically, impedance was between 4 and 10 M. Single unit extracellular recordings were amplified with a Neurodata IR283 (Cygnus Technology Inc., Delaware Water Gap, PA), postamplified and filtered with a Cibertec amplifier (Madrid, Spain) and computed on-line using a DAT 1401plus interface system Spike2 software (Cambridge Electronic Design, Cambridge, UK).
Descents in mPFC were carried out at AP +3.2 to 3.4, L –0.5 to –1.0, DV –1.3 to –4.0 below the brain surface. We systematically confirmed that only a single pyramidal neuron was recorded by (i) identification by antidromic activation from DR and/or MnR and (ii) collision extinction with spontaneously occurring spikes (Fuller and Schlag, 1976). Neurons without antidromic activation or without spontaneous firing activity were not considered.
Single Unit Recordings of 5-HT Neurons in Mouse Brain
We assessed the effects of the i.v. administration of the 5-HT1A agonist 8-OH-DPAT and the selective 5-HT reuptake inhibitor fluoxetine on the firing rate of DR 5-HT neurons in WT and KO mice. These were performed as previously described (Sawyer et al., 1985; Celada et al., 1996) once adapted to mouse brain. Mice were anesthetized with chloral hydrate (400 mg/kg i.p.) and additional doses (80 mg/kg) were administered i.v. through the femoral vein. A 2 x 2 mm recording hole was drilled over the lambda suture and the sagittal sinus was ligated, cut and reflected. Single unit extracellular recordings were carried out along the midline at approximately –4.6 mm from bregma. 5-HT neurons were usually encountered at 2–3.5 mm below the brain surface and identified according to previously described electrophysiological criteria (Wang and Aghajanian, 1977). Serotonergic neurons exhibited a 2–5 ms bi- or triphasic extracellular waveform with regular firing rate and frequencies of 0.3–3.4 Hz.
Microdialysis Procedures
Microdialysis experiments in rats were conducted as described in Martín-Ruiz et al. (2001). Briefly, rats were anesthetized with sodium pentobarbital (60 mg/kg, i.p.) and stereotaxically implanted in mPFC with concentric dialysis probes equipped with a Cuprophan membrane (4 mm long) at the following coordinates (in mm): AP +3.2, L –0.8, DV –6.0. Microdialysis experiments were performed in freely moving rats the day after surgery. After a 100 min stabilization period, four fractions were collected to obtain basal values before local (reverse dialysis) or systemic administration of drugs and then successive 20 min (30 µl) dialysate samples were collected. In most experiments, the partial 5-HT2A/2C receptor agonist DOI was perfused alone for 2 h (six fractions), followed by its application in combination with other drugs for another 2 h period.
For mice, the manufacture of the probes was adapted from that previously described for rats. Surgical and microdialysis procedures were identical to those described for rats except for the dose of anesthesia (sodium pentobarbital, 40 mg/kg, i.p.), the length of dialysis membrane (2 mm) and the brain coordinates (in mm) of the mPFC: AP +2.2, L –0.2, DV –3.4.
The concentration of 5-HT in dialysate samples was determined by HPLC with amperometric detection, as described (Adell and Artigas, 1998). Retention time was between 3.5 and 4 min and the limit of detection was typically 1 fmol/sample. The HPLC profile from mice and rats were similar and the 5-HT peak was free from interferences.
5-HT1A and 5-HT2A Receptor Inactivation in Rats
To assess the involvement of 5-HT2A and 5-HT1A receptors in the actions of DOI and the various 5-HT1A agonists used, we used two different experimental strategies. On the one hand, the function of 5-HT1A receptors in mPFC was cancelled by the local application of pertussis toxin, which ADP-ribosylates Gi/o proteins associated to pre- and postsynaptic 5-HT1A receptors (Andrade et al., 1986; Innis and Aghajanian, 1987). Pentobarbital anesthetized rats were positioned in the stereotaxic frame and pertussis toxin (1 µg in 2 µl of aCSF) was infused through a 25 gauge stainless steel cannula (Small Parts Inc., Miami, FL) at two different DV coordinates (–3.0 and –5.0 mm) using the same AP and L coordinates than for probe implants. (AP +3.2, L –0.8). At each application point, the solution containing pertussis toxin was delivered over the course of 2 min using a 10 µl Hamilton syringe attached to a microinfusion pump (Bioanalytical Systems Inc., West Lafayette, IN) and the cannula was left in position for 10 min to prevent the solution from surging back. Control rats were subjected to the same procedure but no pertussis toxin was applied. Microdialysis experiments were performed 2–3 days after pertussis toxin. In the rats examined 2 days later, a dialysis probe was implanted 1 h after the application of pertussis toxin, to avoid a second surgical procedure. However, in rats examined 3 days later, probes were implanted the day before microdialysis experiments (i.e. 2 days after pertussis toxin administration) to avoid an excessive gliosis resulting from probe implant 3 days later.
A second strategy to examine the involvement of 5-HT2A and 5-HT1A receptors in the actions of DOI and BAY x 3702, respectively, was the use of EEDQ. Since this agent alkylates several G-coupled aminergic receptors, we used the following approach to selectively protect 5-HT2A or 5-HT1A receptors from the effect of EEDQ. Rats were implanted with microdialysis probes in the mPFC, as above. At 3–4 h after implants, the probes were perfused with the 5-HT2A/2C antagonist ritanserin (300 µM) for 3 h at 1.5 µl/min. One hour after beginning of the perfusion, EEDQ was dissolved in ethanol:water (1:1) and administered to the rats (6 mg/kg, i.p.). It was hypothesized that the occupation of 5-HT2A receptors by ritanserin in the area sampled by the microdialysis probe would prevent the inactivation of the receptor by EEDQ. This strategy has been previously used in vitro (Gozlan et al., 1994). Similarly, to protect 5-HT1A receptors, the same procedure was applied, but the selective 5-HT1A antagonist WAY-100635 was perfused before EEDQ administration instead of ritanserin. Microdialysis experiments were performed on the following day.
Data and Statistical Analysis
The statistical analysis of histological data was performed using one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) followed by post-hoc testing to determine regional differences in the expression of 5-HT1A and 5-HT2A receptor. Only cellular profiles showing great abundance of both transcripts were considered to co-express both receptors. Cells with a dense labeling of 5-HT1A receptor mRNA and occasional silver grains or vice versa (e.g., as shown in Fig. 1I) were not considered to co-express both receptors.
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The responses in prefrontal pyramidal neurons evoked by DR and MnR stimulation were characterized by measuring the magnitude and duration of inhibitory and excitatory responses from peristimulus-time histograms (PSTH; 4 ms width). Orthodromic excitations elicited spikes with short and variable latencies with a success rate >10% (Celada et al., 2001
). These have been previously characterized in Puig et al. (2003). Inhibitions were defined by either a total cessation of spikes or a 75% decrease in the number of spikes with respect to the prestimulus value for at least four successive bins (Hajós et al., 1998). These were pharmacologically characterized by reversal with the selective 5-HT1A antagonist WAY-100635. The offset of the inhibition was defined as the first of four bins equal to or above the prestimulus value. Changes in firing rate of 5-HT neurons were assessed using paired Student’s t-test or repeated-measures ANOVA. These were quantified by averaging the values after i.v. drug injection (omitting the first minute). ED50 values were calculated with the GraphPad Prism program (San Diego, CA). Microdialysis results are expressed as fmol/fraction (uncorrected for recovery) and shown in figures as percentages of basal values (individual means of four pre-drug fractions). Statistical analysis was carried out using one- or two-way ANOVA for repeated measures of the 5-HT values followed by Duncan test. Typically, experiments consisted in the perfusion of DOI or S-AMPA by reverse dialysis in mPFC for 2 h followed by another 2 h period in which 5-HT1A agonists were co-perfused. Drug effects were assessed using 5-HT values in four pre-drug fractions plus the six post-drug (2 h) fractions. When appropriate, average 5-HT values were calculated and compared using student’s t-test or ANOVA. Data are expressed as the mean ± SEM. Statistical significance has been set at the 95% confidence level (two tailed).
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Co-expression of 5-HT1A and 5-HT2A Receptors
Rat Prefrontal Cortex
We used double in situ hybridization to examine the presence of 5-HT1A and 5-HT2A receptor mRNAs in rat prefrontal cortex. Figure 1 (A,B) shows the presence of a large number of cells containing both transcripts in superficial, middle and deep layers. At this magnification, a marked overlap in the distribution of both receptors was observed in various cortical areas, such as secondary motor area (MOs), dorsal anterior cingulate area (ACAd), prelimbic area (PL) and infralimbic area (ILA), as well as in the piriform cortex (PIR) or taenia tecta (TT). This was also evident at higher magnification in the cingulate, prelimbic and infralimbic areas of the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC), which contain numerous cells expressing 5-HT1A and/or 5-HT2A receptor mRNAs (Fig. 1D,E,G). However, internal layers (VI) contain fewer cells expressing 5-HT2A than 5-HT1A receptors (compare left sides of panels Fig. 1D and E). As evidenced from Nissl-stained sections (Fig. 1C,F) the proportion of cells expressing 5-HT1A and/or 5-HT2A receptors was high in all prefrontal areas. Figure 1G and H show the presence of abundant cells containing both receptor transcripts in the infralimbic (Fig. 1G) and piriform cortices (Fig. 1H). Figure 1I and J show at a higher magnification, the cells in infralimbic cortex (Fig. 1I) and taenia tecta (Fig. 1J) expressing both receptor transcripts as well as occasional cells in which 5-HT1A and 5-HT2A receptors were not co-localized.
We used total cell counts obtained from adjacent Nissl-stained sections to calculate the proportion of cells in prefrontal cortex expressing 5-HT1A and/or 5-HT2A receptor mRNAs. These values ranged from 53 to 65% (Table 2). The co-expression of both receptors was very high (80–90%) in all cortical areas examined, except in layer VI (38%; Table 2).
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Mouse Prefrontal Cortex
The mouse mPFC showed the presence of abundant cells in which both 5-HT1A and 5-HT2A receptor transcripts were present, with a marked overlap in their distributions (Fig. 2A,B). The proportion of cells expressing one or the other receptor (or both) varied between 52% in layer VI to 71% in cingulate area (Table 3). The proportion of cells containing both receptor mRNAs was 76% in the cingulate area, 72% in the infralimbic area, 48% in layer VI and 82% in the piriform area (Table 3). The percentage of co-expression in deep layers was significantly lower than that in the other areas examined. Figure 2 shows at a higher magnification cells co-expressing both receptors in infralimbic (C) and cingulate (D) areas as well as a scarce number of cells expressing only 5-HT1A or 5-HT2A receptors.
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We performed autoradiographic studies in wild-type (WT) and 5-HT1A receptor knockout [KO(–/–)] mice to examine whether the genetic deletion of 5-HT1A receptors had altered 5-HT2A receptors in prefrontal cortex. The density of 5-HT2A receptor binding sites in the cingulate area (see Materials and Methods) was 476 ± 19 fmol/mg protein in WT mice and 510 ± 13 fmol/mg protein in 5-HT1A receptor KO(–/–) mice (n.s.).
Opposite In Vivo Action of 5-HT1A and 5-HT2A Receptors on Pyramidal Cells
Pyramidal neurons in the mPFC, systematically identified by antidromic stimulation from the DR and MnR were recorded extracellularly. The electrical stimulation of the raphe nuclei could excite and inhibit pyramidal neurons. Here we describe only the characteristics of the responses which were pharmacologically characterized by the use of selective antagonists. 5-HT2A-mediated excitations (n = 10) were reversed by M100907 (0.2–0.6 mg/kg i.v.; Fig. 3A,B). Excitations had a mean latency of 71 ± 8 ms and a mean duration of 101 ± 8 ms. The success rate dropped after M100907 administration from 47 ± 8% to 11 ± 3% (P < 0.001). In all cases, orthodromic and antidromic spikes were simultaneously recorded, showing the existence of a strong reciprocal raphe–mPFC interaction. Two additional neurons (out of 12) were excited by DR stimulation but the response was not reversed by M100907 (up to 0.6 mg/kg).
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Likewise, the electrical stimulation of the DR and MnR inhibited mPFC pyramidal neurons. The 5-HT1A antagonist WAY-100635 (10–60 µg/kg i.v) reversed these inhibitions in 8/10 cases examined (Fig. 3C,D). WAY-100635 did not reverse a short latency/duration inhibition (see Discussion for an explanation of the putative mechanisms involved). We therefore omitted this earlier component in the calculations. 5-HT1A-mediated inhibitions had a latency of 69 ± 32 ms and a duration of 181 ± 84 ms. Within this time period, raphe stimulation inhibited mPFC pyramidal neurons by 87 ± 15%. The administration of WAY-100635 reversed this inhibition to –30 ± 80%, i.e. 5-HT1A receptor blockade unveiled a latent excitation, which was noticeable in four out of the eight units whose inhibition was blocked by WAY-100635, as in the example shown in Figure 4F. This suggests that some of the recorded units were concurrently excited and inhibited by raphe stimulation, although the overall effect was inhibitory.
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The high co-expression of 5-HT1A and 5-HT2A receptors in prefrontal neurons seemed paradoxical in view of their opposite cellular responses to 5-HT. We hypothesized that 5-HT might excite or inhibit a given pyramidal neuron depending on (i) the amount of 5-HT released, or (ii) the existence of specific connections between the stimulated 5-HT neurons and pyramidal compartments enriched in one or other receptor (see Discussion). We tested the first possibility by recording pyramidal neurons after single or twin pulse stimulation of the DR/MnR. The results are given in a separate report (M.V. Puig et al., in preparation). In general, twin pulse stimulation, which increases 5-HT release (Gartside et al., 2000
) also enhanced the magnitude of the inhibitory effect.
To examine the second possibility, we conducted a series of experiments in which we recorded the same pyramidal neuron while stimulating the DR and the MnR at different sites (two in the DR, one in MnR; see Experimental Procedures). Once a pyramidal neuron was identified, stimulation began in one of these sites to evoke a response, which was recorded for 2–4 min. Then, the current was switched to an electrode implanted in another coordinate within the raphe nuclei while recording the same neuron. Due to the experimental paradigm used, we could not pharmacologically assess these responses, yet their characteristics did not differ from those blocked by 5-HT2A and 5-HT1A antagonists. A total of 56 experiments were done in which pyramidal responses differed — qualitatively or quantitatively — depending on the site of placement of the stimulating electrode within the raphe (three electrodes were stably implanted; see Experimental Procedures). Figure 4 (A–E) shows examples of several of these experiments. In 14 cases, the response changed from an excitation to an inhibition (or vice versa). In three of them, the excitation was preceded by an inhibition lasting for 100 ms (Fig. 4A'). In another 14 experiments, switching the stimulation site inhibited a previously unresponsive neuron (or vice versa; Fig. 4B'). Also, a change from no response to excitation (or vice versa) was observed in six cases (Fig. 4C'). In 22 cases, the nature of the response did not change (15 inhibitions; seven excitations) but the effect size differed when switching the stimulation site (9/15 for inhibitions, 4/7 for excitations). As shown in the examples in Figure 4, excitations and inhibitions could be indistinctly evoked by DR or MnR stimulation. Lastly, to verify the reversibility of these effects, in some experiments we further switched the stimulation site back to the original one and the response was recorded for another 2 min period (n = 7). Figure 4D–E shows two examples of the reversibility of the responses achieved.
An additional evidence of the dual action of 5-HT on prefrontal pyramidal neurons is shown in Figure 4F. This cell was initially inhibited by DR stimulation at AP –7.8 mm. The administration of WAY-100635 (10 µg/kg i.v.) unveiled a latent excitation which was reversed by the selective 5-HT2A antagonist M100907 (0.5 mg/kg i.v.).
In Vivo Interaction between 5-HT1A and 5-HT2A Receptors at Circuit Level
Anatomical and functional data (see Introduction) support the existence of a reciprocal connectivity and mutual control of 5-HT and prefrontal neurons (mPFC–raphe circuit). The stimulation of excitatory (AMPA, 5-HT2A) and inhibitory (5-HT1A) receptors in mPFC, increases and decreases, respectively (i) pyramidal cell firing, (ii) 5-HT cell firing in the DR, and (iii) 5-HT release in mPFC (Celada et al., 2001; Martín-Ruiz et al., 2001; Puig et al., 2003). Here we used the drug-evoked in vivo 5-HT release in mPFC as an overall index of the pyramidal influence on ascending midbrain 5-HT neurons.
Microdialysis Studies in Rats
A total of 123 rats were used in these studies. Baseline 5-HT values were 20.3 ± 1.0 fmol/fraction. As previously observed, local DOI application (100 µM) in rat mPFC doubled 5-HT release (n = 10, P < 0.0001; Fig. 5A). This effect depends on 5-HT2A receptor activation (Martín-Ruiz et al., 2001) and was reversed by co-perfusion of the following 5-HT1A receptor agonists: 8-OH-DPAT (100 µM, n = 8), alnespirone (300 µM, n = 6), BAY x 3702 (30 µM, n = 7), buspirone (300 µM, n = 6) and ipsapirone (300 µM, n = 5; data not shown) (Fig. 5A). Two-way ANOVA revealed a significant effect of the group (P < 0.0025), time (P < 0.0001) and time x group interaction (P < 0.0001).
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The reducing effect of BAY x 3702 was antagonized by the co-perfusion of WAY-100635 (300 µM, n = 9, P < 0.007) (Fig. 5B). A lower concentration of WAY-100635 (100 µM) could not reverse the effect of BAY x 3702 (n = 6, not shown). We further examined the involvement of postsynaptic 5-HT receptors in these effects using two strategies. First, one day before microdialysis experiments, we inactivated 5-HT1A receptors in rat mPFC using the chelating agent EEDQ (6 mg/kg i.p.) while protecting 5-HT2A/2C receptors with ritanserin (see Experimental Procedures). Under these conditions, the 5-HT-enhancing effect of DOI did not differ from that in naïve rats (n = 7; Fig. 5C) but the suppressing effect of BAY x 3702 was totally abolished (P < 0.0001; Fig. 5C). In another group of rats we protected 5-HT1A receptors from EEDQ by local WAY-100635 application (300 µM) using the same temporal schedule. In these rats, DOI elicited a very modest 5-HT increment (25 ± 13%) which clearly differed from controls (P < 0.0001) whereas BAY x 3702 30 µM was fully effective to reduce 5-HT release (
50% of the initial baseline; Fig. 5C).
We also inactivated the function of 5-HT1A receptors with pertussis toxin (PTx) (see Experimental Procedures). Figure 5D shows the effect of the co-perfusion of DOI and BAY x 3702 (30 µM) in control rats (n = 7), sham-operated rats (n = 4) and in rats pretreated with PTx (1 µg) 2–3 days before (n = 5 and 7, respectively). The reducing effect of BAY x 3702, expressed as pre-drug values (1 h periods, fractions 14–16 versus 8–10) was 43 ± 4% in control rats, 46 ± 2% in sham-operated rats, 71 ± 5% and 84 ± 8% in PTx-treated rats respectively (inset in Fig. 5D) (P = 0.00115). PTx (3 days before) also attenuated the suppressing effect of BAY x 3702 (0.1 mg/kg, s.c.) on 5-HT release in mPFC (18% of baseline in controls, 55% in PTx-treated rats; n = 6 and 7, respectively; P < 0.0001; Fig. 5E), as this effect involves pre- and postsynaptic 5-HT1A receptors (Casanovas et al., 1999).
S-AMPA application (300 µM, n = 5) also elevated mPFC 5-HT release (P < 0.0001). The co-perfusion of 8-OH-DPAT (100 µM, n = 3) and BAY x 3702 (30 µM, n = 5) also attenuated the 5-HT-enhancing effect of S-AMPA (P < 0.0001; Fig. 5F).
In Vivo Studies in WT and 5-HT1A KO Mice
We used 5-HT1A KO mice (Parks et al., 1998) to further verify the specificity of the responses elicited by 5-HT1A agonists. Autoradiographic studies using [3H]WAY-100635 showed the lack of hippocampal 5-HT1A receptors in 5-HT1A KO mice (Fig. 6A). The absence of functional 5-HT1A receptors was determined using extracellular recordings of DR 5-HT neurons. Basal firing rate of DR 5-HT neurons in WT and KO mice was 1.6 ± 0.2 and 1.7 ± 0.2 spikes/s (n = 26 and 20, respectively; n.s.). 8-OH-DPAT (2–32 µg/kg i.v., cumulative doses) dose-dependently inhibited the firing rate of 5-HT neurons in WT mice (n = 10, P < 0.0001; Fig. 6B,D) with an ED50 value of 6.8 µg/kg but failed to significantly reduce cell firing in KO mice (n = 6; Fig. 6C,D). Similarly, the 5-HT reuptake inhibitor fluoxetine (2–32 mg/kg i.v., cumulative doses) suppressed 5-HT cell firing in WT mice (n = 4; ED50 = 7.6 mg/kg, P < 0.0001; Fig. 6E,H) but not in KO mice (n = 4; Fig. 6F–H). However, 5-HT neurons in KO mice were fully responsive to the 1-adrenoceptor antagonist prazosin (up to 4.5 mg/kg i.v., ED50 = 2.7 mg/kg i.v., n = 5; Fig. 6C,F).
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In microdialysis experiments we used 56 WT mice and 50 KO mice. Baseline 5-HT release in the mPFC was 14.1 ± 1.0 and 13.7 ± 1.0 fmol/fraction in WT and KO mice, respectively (n.s.). The perfusion of artificial CSF did not significantly alter the prefrontal 5-HT output in WT and KO mice (n = 6 and 4, respectively) although 5-HT release was less stable in KO mice (i.e. saw-tooth oscillations; Fig. 7A). The local application of DOI (30, 100, 300 and 500 µM) in the mPFC increased dose-dependently the 5-HT output to a similar extent in the mPFC of WT and KO mice (n = 5; Fig. 7B). The concentration of 100 µM was chosen for subsequent experiments. The perfusion of DOI 100 µM stably increased 5-HT release (Fig. 7C). In a separate report, we describe the mechanisms involved in the effect of DOI on 5-HT release in WT mice (Bortolozzi et al., 2003
). We used the data from some groups included in that study for statistical analysis of WT–KO differences. The perfusion of M100907 (300 µM) reversed the effect of DOI on 5-HT release in WT and KO mice (n = 5 and 7, respectively; P < 0.0001 time effect, non-significant differences between groups; Fig. 7C).
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The perfusion of BAY x 3702 (30 µM) markedly reduced the 5-HT release in the mPFC of WT but not of KO mice (n = 5 and 10 respectively, P < 0.001; Fig. 7D). BAY x 3702 also reversed the 5-HT elevation induced by the local application of DOI in mPFC of WT but not KO mice (n = 8 each, P < 0.0003; Fig. 7E). Likewise, 8-OH-DPAT (100 µM) significantly reduced 5-HT release in WT but not KO mice (n = 6 and 4 respectively; P < 0.001; Fig. 7D) and reversed the DOI-induced facilitation of 5-HT release in WT but not KO mice (n = 5 and 4, respectively; data not shown).
As observed in rats (Fig. 5) the perfusion of S-AMPA in the mPFC of mice increased 5-HT release. This effect was fully counteracted by the co-perfusion of BAY x 3702 (30 µM) in WT (n = 5) but not KO mice (n = 7, P < 0.0001; Fig. 7F).
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Discussion |
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TopAbstractIntroductionMaterials and MethodsResultsDiscussionNotesReferences |
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The main findings of the present study are that (i) nearly 60% of the prefrontal cells contain the mRNA encoding 5-HT1A and/or 5-HT2A receptors, with a very high degree (80%) of co-localization, (ii) endogenous 5-HT modulates the activity of pyramidal neurons in vivo through these receptors, (iii) the response elicited by 5-HT (excitation or inhibition) possibly depends on the existence of precise projections from the raphe cells to areas of the pyramidal neurons rich in 5-HT2A or 5-HT1A receptors and (iv) drug-induced activation of 5-HT1A and 5-HT2A receptors in mPFC modulates the pyramidal output to the raphe nuclei — and possibly other subcortical areas — in an opposite manner.
Co-expression of 5-HT1A and 5-HT2A Receptors in Rodent Prefrontal Cortex
The high number of neurons expressing the 5-HT1A and 5-HT2A receptor mRNAs accords with the very high density of the respective proteins in rodent prefrontal cortex, particularly in its medial aspect. Previous studies revealed an overlap in the distribution of 5-HT1A and 5-HT2A receptors in prefrontal cortex (Pazos and Palacios, 1985; Pazos et al., 1985; Pompeiano et al., 1992, 1994) and suggested some coexistence in pyramidal neurons (Araneda and Andrade, 1991; Ashby et al., 1994; Martín-Ruiz et al., 2001). The present data indicate that the co-expression of both receptors is the general rule in the various prefrontal areas examined, except in layer VI, where 5-HT1A receptor mRNA predominates. Notably, the prelimbic and infralimbic areas of the mPFC, which project to the midbrain serotonergic and dopaminergic nuclei (Hajós et al., 1998; Peyron et al., 1998; Carr and Sesack, 2000) contain many cells co-expressing both receptors. The vast majority of cells expressing 5-HT1A or 5-HT2A receptors also express vGLUT1 (N. Santana et al., unpublished observations). A smaller percentage (20%) of all GAD-expressing cells also express these receptors (N. Santana et al., unpublished observations). Taking into account the percentage of GABA interneurons versus principal cells in the cortex (15%; Beaulieu, 1993), it appears that most of 5-HT1A and 5-HT2A mRNAs are localized to pyramidal neurons.
We are unaware of similar data for other neurotransmitter receptors (e.g. dopaminergic) in prefrontal cortex. However, the large proportion of cells expressing 5-HT1A or 5-HT2A receptors suggest an important serotonergic control of prefrontal function in the rodent brain. Indeed, in vitro recordings have revealed that prefrontal pyramidal neurons respond to 5-HT applications with inhibitory and excitatory responses (see Introduction). Moreover, in vivo recordings of presumed (Hajós et al., 2003) and identified pyramidal neurons in mPFC (Puig et al., 2003; this work) indicates that these are very sensitive to the physiological activation of 5-HT neurons.
Pyramidal Responses Elicited by Raphe Stimulation in Rats
Early microiontophoretic studies revealed predominantly inhibitory actions of 5-HT on cortical neurons (Jacobs and Azmitia, 1992). This effect may involve direct (5-HT1A-mediated) and indirect (GABA-mediated) actions of 5-HT (Ashby et al., 1989, 1990, 1994). In vitro intracellular recordings suggested that 5-HT1A and 5-HT2A receptors exert opposite effects on pyramidal excitability (see Introduction). Our in vivo observations indicate that 5-HT excites (via 5-HT2A receptors) and inhibits (via 5-HT1A receptors) pyramidal neurons in mPFC. All neurons recorded were activated antidromically from the DR or MnR, which supports the existence of strong reciprocal interactions between 5-HT neurons and 5-HT1A/5-HT2A receptor-expressing pyramidal neurons in mPFC. Moreover, in a previous study we observed that pyramidal neurons sensitive to the activation of 5-HT2A receptors were also antidromically activated from the VTA (Puig et al., 2003). Excitations were 5-HT2A receptor-mediated since they were reversed by M100907, as recently reported (Puig et al., 2003). Inhibitions lasted more than excitations and involved 5-HT1A receptors, since they were reversed by WAY-100635. The earlier component of the inhibitions (not blocked by WAY-100635, even at high doses) may be due to an increase of GABA inputs mediated by the activation of 5-HT2A or 5-HT3 receptors in interneurons (Ashby et al., 1989, 1990; Zhou and Hablitz, 1999). Also, since the recorded neurons were antidromically activated from the DR or MnR, it may be that antidromic stimulation enhanced prefrontal glutamate release from axon collaterals and, hence, an increase in local GABA inputs onto the recorded neurons. Moreover, Susan R. Sesack and associates have reported the presence of GABAergic projection neurons from the DR to the mPFC of the rat (Janowski and Sesack, 2002), which raises the possibility that the short latency/duration inhibitions not blocked by WAY-100635 may be due to a direct GABA synaptic input evoked by DR/MnR stimulation. Current work is examining this possibility. During the completion of the present report, Hajós et al. (2003) documented the existence of 5-HT1A receptor-mediated inhibitions of presumed pyramidal neurons evoked by DR stimulation. However, unlike in the present report, DR-evoked inhibitions were fully blocked by WAY-100635. Differences in the location of the recorded neurons (more ventral in Hajós et al., 2003) and/or strain of rats used may account for this distinct behaviour. Occasionally, WAY-100635 unveiled a prominent 5-HT2A-mediated excitation (as in the example in Fig. 4F), suggesting that raphe stimulation simultaneously excited and inhibited the recorded neuron, although the inhibitory response prevailed.
5-HT2A receptors are enriched in apical dendrites of pyramidal neurons (Willins et al., 1997; Jakab and Goldman-Rakic, 1998; Cornea-Hébert et al., 1999) and mediate the increase in pyramidal excitability induced by 5-HT application near the apical dendrites (Aghajanian and Marek, 1997). Yet, conflicting results have been reported for 5-HT1A receptors, using two different antibodies. Azmitia et al. (1996) found a somatodendritic location for 5-HT1A autoreceptors in raphe 5-HT neurons and a location in the axon hillock of cortical and hippocampal pyramidal neurons. This observation has been replicated by two other groups in primate and human brain (De Felipe et al., 2001; David E. Lewis, personal communication). This localization is coincident with the unique cortical axo-axonic synapses such as those of GABAergic chandelier cells on the pyramidal axon hillock (Somogyi et al., 1998; De Felipe et al., 2001) and would assign a prominent inhibitory role to 5-HT1A receptors in the control of pyramidal activity. On the other hand, a somatodendritic location of 5-HT1A receptors in the DR and hippocampus has been reported using a different antibody (Kia et al., 1996; Riad et al., 2000). The non-synaptic nature of serotonergic transmission in mammalian cortex (Beaudet and Descarries, 1978; De Felipe and Jones, 1988) appears to be discordant with a putative presence of both receptors in the same areas of pyramidal neurons, since 5-HT released from nearby axons would indistinctly activate 5-HT1A and 5-HT2A receptors in the proximity of release sites. Indeed, the predominance of the inhibitory response, as observed when 5-HT is applied microiontophoretically or when enhancing cortical 5-HT release (Gartside et al., 2000; Puig et al., unpublished observations; see also Fig. 4F) suggests that 5-HT1A receptors are located downstream of 5-HT2A receptors in the process of spike generation. This would be consistent with a location of 5-HT2A receptors on apical dendrites, as generally agreed, whereas 5-HT1A receptors may be localized in cell bodies, basal dendrites and/or axon hillock. The segregation of both receptors in different compartments of the pyramidal neuron would permit that 5-HT axons terminating on (or passing near) apical dendrites would excite pyramidal neurons whereas those at lower cortical levels would result in inhibitions, as in the scheme shown in Figure 8. Additionally, it has been proposed that the activity of prefrontal pyramidal neurons is controlled by 5-HT via GABA interneurons expressing 5-HT2A and 5-HT3 receptors, located at different heights in the pyramidal tree (Jakab and Goldman-Rakic, 2000). Both proposals would be in agreement with the existence of excitatory and inhibitory inputs at different levels in cortical microcircuits regulating the output of pyramidal cells (Somogyi et al., 1998).
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