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The selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor fluoxetine increases spontaneous afferent firing, but not mechanonociceptive sensitization, in octopus

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Invertebrate Neuroscience

Abstract

Serotonin is a widely studied modulator of neural plasticity. Here we investigate the effect of fluoxetine, a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor, on short-term, peripheral nociceptive plasticity in the neurologically complex invertebrate, octopus. After crush injury to isolated mantle (body wall) tissue, application of 10 nM fluoxetine increased spontaneous firing in crushed preparations, but had a minimal effect on mechanosensory sensitization. Effects largely did not persist after washout. We suggest that transiently elevated, endogenous serotonin may help promote initiation of longer-term plasticity of nociceptive afferents and drive immediate and spontaneous behaviors aimed at protecting wounds and escaping dangerous situations.

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Fig. 1
Fig. 2

Abbreviations

CNS:

Central nervous system

5-HT:

5-Hydroxytryptamine/serotonin

ASW:

Artificial seawater

FLX:

Fluoxetine (in solution, 10 nM in ASW)

PNS:

Peripheral nervous system

LTM:

Long-term memory

STM:

Short-term memory

SA:

Spontaneous activity

SSRI:

Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor

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Acknowledgements

We thank members of the Crook Lab for assisting with animal care, and Peyman Bastani and Robert Dasmarinus for conducting additional data analysis. Funding was provided from a DRC Grant from SF State, and from start-up funds to RJC, and an NIH MBRS-RISE (R25-GM059298) to PVP.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Biology, San Francisco State University, 1600 Holloway Avenue, San Francisco, CA, 94132, USA

    Paul V. Perez, Hanna M. Butler-Struben & Robyn J. Crook

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  1. Paul V. Perez
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  2. Hanna M. Butler-Struben
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  3. Robyn J. Crook
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Correspondence to Robyn J. Crook.

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Perez, P.V., Butler-Struben, H.M. & Crook, R.J. The selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor fluoxetine increases spontaneous afferent firing, but not mechanonociceptive sensitization, in octopus. Invert Neurosci 17, 10 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10158-017-0203-1

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