High dose of 8-OH-DPAT decreases maximal dentate gyrus activation and facilitates granular cell plasticity in vivo

Gergely Orban, Massimo Pierucci, Arcangelo Benigno, Mauro Pessia, Salvatore Galati, Mario Valentino, Richard Muscat, Giuseppe Di Giovanni

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

21 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Although several studies have emphasized a crucial role for the serotonergic system in the control of hippocampal excitability, the role of serotonin (5-HT) and its receptors in normal and pathologic conditions, such as temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE), is still unclear. The present study was therefore designed firstly to investigate the acute effect of 8-OH-DPAT, a mixed 5-HT 1A/7 receptor agonist, at a high dose (1 mg/kg, i.p.) known to have antiepileptic properties, in a model of acute partial epilepsy in rats. For this purpose, a maximal dentate activation (MDA) protocol was used to measure electrographic seizure onset and duration. In addition, the effect of 8-OH-DPAT on in vivo dentate gyrus cell reactivity and short- and long-term plasticity was studied. Rats injected with 8-OH-DPAT exhibited a significant reduction in MDA and epileptic discharges, a decrease in paired-pulse facilitation and an increase in long-term potentiation. This study suggests that 8-OH-DPAT or in general 5-HT1A/7 agonists might be useful for the treatment of TLE and also have some beneficial effects on the comorbid cognitive disorders seen in epileptic patients.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)441-451
Number of pages11
JournalExperimental Brain Research
Volume230
Issue number4
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Oct 2013
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • Dentate gyrus
  • Depression
  • Memory
  • Serotonergic drugs
  • Serotonin receptors
  • Temporal lobe epilepsy

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • General Neuroscience

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