Whitaker-Azmitia P M, Lauder J M, Shemmer A, Azmitia E C
Brain Res. 1987 Jun;430(2):285-9. doi: 10.1016/0165-3806(87)90161-1.
Recent work by ourselves and others has indicated that serotonin (5-HT) acts as a regulator of neuronal growth in fetal tissue, probably through an action on the high affinity 5-HT receptors known to be present. In order for our hypothesis to be correct, these receptors must be shown to be functional in fetal tissue. Furthermore, since 5-HT has a dual role in neuronal development, these receptors must be functional both in the region of the serotonergic cell body (brainstem) and in projection areas (forebrain). We have tested the functional status of fetal 5-HT receptors by testing their ability to adapt to changes in the level of 5-HT. Pregnant rats were treated with saline, p-chlorophenylalanine (a 5-HT depletor) or 5-methoxytryptamine (a 5-HT agonist) and the characteristics of the high affinity 5-HT receptors in the rat pups determined using a binding assay with [3H]5-HT. Our results show that both forebrain and brainstem receptors respond to alterations in transmitter level in a manner similar to adult brain. Thus, fetal 5-HT receptors are functional and capable of playing a role in neuronal development.
我们自己及其他人最近的研究表明，血清素（5-羟色胺，5-HT）可能通过作用于已知存在的高亲和力5-HT受体，来调节胎儿组织中神经元的生长。为了使我们的假设正确，必须证明这些受体在胎儿组织中具有功能。此外，由于5-HT在神经元发育中具有双重作用，这些受体必须在血清素能细胞体区域（脑干）和投射区域（前脑）均具有功能。我们通过测试胎儿5-HT受体适应5-HT水平变化的能力，来检验其功能状态。给怀孕大鼠注射生理盐水、对氯苯丙氨酸（一种5-HT消耗剂）或5-甲氧基色胺（一种5-HT激动剂），并使用[3H]5-HT结合试验来测定幼鼠中高亲和力5-HT受体的特征。我们的结果表明，前脑和脑干受体对递质水平变化的反应方式与成年大脑相似。因此，胎儿5-HT受体具有功能，并且能够在神经元发育中发挥作用。
