Bert B, Fink H, Rothe J, Walstab J, Bönisch H
Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Department of Veterinary Medicine, Freie Universität Berlin, Koserstrasse 20, 14195 Berlin, Germany.
Behav Brain Res. 2008 Dec 16;195(1):78-85. doi: 10.1016/j.bbr.2008.02.028. Epub 2008 Mar 10.
The serotonin 1A (5-HT(1A))-receptor is involved in a wide range of physiological functions, but has also been implicated in the pathophysiology of anxiety disorders and depression. Although the 5-HT(1A)-receptor is one of the best described receptor subtypes of the serotonergic system, its complex distribution pattern, pre- and postsynaptic localisation, and its impact on various neurotransmitters aggravate the attribution of 5-HT(1A)-agonistic effects to behavioural outcomes. The role of 5-HT(1A)-receptors for cognitive processes seems undisputed. However, the exact involvement of pre- and postsynaptic sites remains unexplained. Genetically modified animals are a complementary approach to pharmacological studies for further investigations of the role of the 5-HT(1A)-receptor. Next to 5-HT(1A)-receptor knockout mice, two transgenic mouse lines exist that either overexpress the 5-HT(1A)-receptor transiently or permanently. The latter mouse line stands out due to the fact that a distinct overexpression is primarily found in the outer cortical layers and hippocampus, both projection areas of serotonergic neurons. Here, we discuss the findings obtained from 5-HT(1A)-receptor knockout and overexpressing mice concerning their learning and memory abilities.
血清素1A（5-HT(1A)）受体参与广泛的生理功能，但也与焦虑症和抑郁症的病理生理学有关。尽管5-HT(1A)受体是血清素能系统中描述得最为详尽的受体亚型之一，但其复杂的分布模式、突触前和突触后的定位以及对各种神经递质的影响，使得将5-HT(1A)激动效应归因于行为结果变得更加困难。5-HT(1A)受体在认知过程中的作用似乎是无可争议的。然而，突触前和突触后位点的确切参与情况仍未得到解释。转基因动物是药理学研究的一种补充方法，可用于进一步研究5-HT(1A)受体的作用。除了5-HT(1A)受体敲除小鼠外，还存在两种转基因小鼠品系，它们要么短暂要么永久地过度表达5-HT(1A)受体。后一种小鼠品系尤为突出，因为主要在血清素能神经元的两个投射区域，即大脑皮层外层和海马体中发现了明显的过度表达。在此，我们讨论从5-HT(1A)受体敲除和过度表达小鼠中获得的有关其学习和记忆能力的研究结果。
