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Rat brain monoamine and serotonin S2 receptor changes during pregnancy

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Abstract

The concentrations of noradrenaline (NA), dopamine (DA), serotonin (5-HT), and their metabolites were determined in 5 brain areas of non-pregnant, 15 and 20 day pregnant and 4 day post-partum rats. Striatal 5-HT content was significantly lower in 15 and 20 day pregnant rats than in estrous controls. A significant decrease in striatal and frontal cortex 5-hydroxyindole-3-acetic acid (5-HIAA) concentration was observed in 15 day pregnant rats. Significant increases in hypothalamic and hippocampal NA levels were observed at 4 days post-partum. Frontal cortex serotonin S2 receptorKd was reduced in 4 day post-partum rats. There was no significant change in S2 receptorB max during pregnancy. Levels of progesterone were negatively correlated with striatal DA, homovanillic acid (HVA), 5-HT, and 5-HIAA levels, hypothalamic DA, hippocampal 5-HT, and frontal cortex 5-HIAA values as well as striatal HVA to DA, and HVA to 3,4-dihydroxyphenylacetic acid (DOPAC) ratios and amygdaloid HVA to DOPAC ratios. The limbic neurotransmitter changes might possibly contribute to mood changes which occur during pregnancy and post-partum.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. MRC Research Unit for the Neurochemistry of Mental Diseases, Department of Chemical Pathology, University of Stellenbosch, Tygerberg Hospital, P. O. Box 113, 7505, Tygerberg, (R.S.A.)

    Jonathan Glaser, Vivienne Ann Russell, Anna Susanna de Villiers, Johanna Anita Searson & Joshua Joachim Fransua Taljaard

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  1. Jonathan Glaser
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  2. Vivienne Ann Russell
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Glaser, J., Russell, V.A., de Villiers, A.S. et al. Rat brain monoamine and serotonin S2 receptor changes during pregnancy. Neurochem Res 15, 949–956 (1990). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00965738

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