Abstract—Intracerebral microdialysis in Sprague-Dawley rats showed that a conditioned sound signal (CS+) previously reinforced by unavoidable electrocutaneous stimulation (fear conditioning test) is accompanied by an increased level of extracellular serotonin in the medial prefrontal cortex and provokes freezing behavior (fear index). A differential sound signal (CS–) not associated with pain stimulation (fear generalization test) also led to an increase in the level of extracellular serotonin in the medial prefrontal cortex but with decreased freezing behavior. These changes were absent in control group animals (same procedures, no electrocutaneus stimulation). Administration of the selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor fluoxetine (1 µmol) in the medial prefrontal cortex increased the elevation of extracellular serotonin levels caused by CS+ and CS–. This pharmacological exposure did not affect the freezing response to CS+ or CS– during the tests, however, it did cause longer periods of immobility between CS+ signals but not CS–. The data show that activation of the serotonin system of the medial prefrontal cortex by potentially threatening conditioned signals, but not neutral differential signals, takes part in the regulation of defensive behavior in the intervals between signals.
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This study was partly supported by the Russian Foundation for Basic Research (grant no. 16-04-00449) and the Program of Fundamental Scientific Research for State Academies, 2013–2020 (GP-14, section 63).
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Ethical approval. The experiments were performed in accordance with international guidelines on the humane treatment of laboratory animals (Council Directive 86/609/EEC).
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Saul’skaya, N.B., Marchuk, O.E., Puzanova, M.A. et al. Activation of Serotonin System in the Medial Prefrontal Cortex by Sound Signals of Danger. Neurochem. J. 14, 408–414 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1134/S181971242004008X
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1134/S181971242004008X