Serotonin 5-HT1C receptors are expressed at high density on choroid plexus tumors from transgenic mice.

Choroid plexus tumors develop spontaneously in adult transgenic mice carrying integrated copies of SV40 early region genes. In this communication, we report that these tumors exhibit the highest density of serotonin receptors (6600 fmol/mg protein) found in any tissue. 125I-LSD binding to choroid plexus tumors displays a pharmacological profile that matches the properties of 5-HT1C receptors in normal choroid plexus tissue. Autoradiographic localization of 125I-LSD binding in brain sections from transgenic mice shows high levels of labelling in the tumors, in correlation with immunohistochemical staining for SV40 large T antigen expression. Choroid plexus tumors from these transgenic mice provide an excellent model system for the study of serotonin 5-HT1C receptors.