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(Stroke. 1999;30:1695-1701.)
© 1999 American Heart Association, Inc.

Original Contributions

Local Treatments of Dorsal Raphe Nucleus Induce Changes in Serotonergic Activity in Rat Major Cerebral Arteries

Emilio J. Marco, PhD; María Jesús Moreno, PhD Angel Luis López de Pablo, PhD

From the Departamento de Fisiología, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Spain.

Correspondence to Dr Emilio J. Marco, Departamento de Fisiología, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Arzobispo Morcillo 2, 28029 Madrid, Spain. E-mail emilio.marco{at}uam.es

Background and Purpose—Rat major cerebral arteries seem to receive serotonergic fibers originating from the dorsal raphe nucleus (DRN), but little is known about their function. The aim of our present work was to establish a functional relationship between this brain stem nucleus and the cerebral blood vessels by studying the effects of several treatments in the DRN on cerebrovascular serotonergic activity.

Methods—Serotonin, clomipramine, 8-OH-DPAT, and WAY-100635 were administered in DRN. A stereotaxically localized electrode allowed the electrical stimulation of this brain stem nucleus. Serotonergic activity was appraised in major cerebral arteries, striatum, and hippocampus from 5-hydroxytryptophan accumulation after aromatic L-amino acid decarboxylase inhibition with NSD-1015.

Results—Serotonin significantly decreased serotonergic activity in major cerebral arteries and striatum without affecting it in hippocampus. This reduction was blocked by previous injection of WAY-100635 in DRN. Local administration of 8-OH-DPAT or clomipramine elicited an effect similar to that of serotonin, whereas that of WAY-100635 did not modify serotonergic activity in either of the tissues. Electrical stimulation of DRN significantly increased serotonergic activity in major cerebral arteries and striatum but not in hippocampus.

Conclusions—These results confirm the presence of a serotonergic innervation in rat major cerebral arteries functionally related to DRN. 5-HT_1A receptor activation partly mediates the action of serotonin in DRN. A serotonergic tone acting on these somatodendritic receptors was not clearly found.

Editorial Comment

Hermes A. Kontos, MD, PhD

Associate Editor for Basic Science, Virginia Commonwealth University, Medical College of Virginia, Richmond, Virginia