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Effects of neonatal treatment with 5,7-dihydroxytryptamine or 6-hydroxydopamine on the ontogenetic development of the audiogenic immobility reaction in the rat

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Abstract

The ontogenetic development of the audiogenic immobility reaction (freezing) was studied in rats given intracisternal injections of the neurotoxins 5,7-dihydroxytryptamine (5,7-DHT), 25 μg, or 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA), 100 μg, neonatally (Day 1). The duration of the freezing response was strongly reduced in the 5,7-DHT-treated rats between 20–30 days of age, when normal animals show very prolonged responses. During the same period increased motor activity was observed in the 6-OHDA-treated rats while only a slight reduction of the freezing response was noted. Biochemical analyses performed on brains from animals 35 days of age showed a selective reduction (about 50%) of whole brain levels of serotonin in the 5,7-DHT-treated rats, while the noradrenaline levels were selectively reduced by about 60% in the 6-OHDA rats. A longitudinal investigation on the effects of neonatal treatment with 5,7-DHT showed a persistent selective reduction of the whole brain level of serotonin up to at least 90 days of age. Since 5,7-DHT mainly affects the serotonergic pathways, the results suggest that the disturbances noted in the ontogeny of the freezing response may be due to interference with the developing serotonergic system.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Psychiatry and Neurochemistry, University of Göteborg, Göteborg, Sweden

    Ernest Hård

  2. Department of Psychology, Unit of Psychobiology, University of Göteborg, Box 14158, S-400 20, Göteborg, Sweden

    Ernest Hård & Sven Ahlenius

  3. Department of Pharmacology, University of Göteborg, Göteborg, Sweden

    Sven Ahlenius & Jörgen Engel

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  1. Ernest Hård
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  2. Sven Ahlenius
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  3. Jörgen Engel
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Hård, E., Ahlenius, S. & Engel, J. Effects of neonatal treatment with 5,7-dihydroxytryptamine or 6-hydroxydopamine on the ontogenetic development of the audiogenic immobility reaction in the rat. Psychopharmacology 80, 269–274 (1983). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00436168

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00436168

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