Serotonin depletion during the postnatal developmental period causes behavioral and cognitive alterations and decreases BDNF level in the brain of rats. Issue 2 (20th January 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Saadati, Hakimeh; Sadegzadeh, Farshid; Sakhaie, Nona; Panahpour, Hamdollah; Sagha, Mohsen
• Is Part Of: International journal of developmental neuroscience. Volume 81:Issue 2(2021:Apr.)
• Page Start: 179
• Page End: 190
• Publication Date: 2021-01-20
• Subjects: anxiety -- brain‐derived neurotrophic factor -- novel object recognition memory -- para‐chlorophenylalanine -- postnatal days -- serotonin; Developmental neurobiology -- Periodicals; Neurology -- Periodicals; Neurologie du développement -- Périodiques; Developmental neurobiology; Periodicals; 612.8
• DOI: 10.1002/jdn.10087
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0736-5748

Abstract

Abstract: A survey of the literature indicates that the developmental disruptions in serotonin (5‐HT) levels can influence the brain development and the function. To the best of our knowledge, so far, there are a few studies about the effects of developmental period 5‐HT depletion on cognition and behavior of adult male and female rats. Therefore, in the present study, we examined the effects of postnatal days (PND 10–20) administration of para‐chlorophenylalanine (PCPA, 100 mg/kg, s.c) a 5‐HT synthesis inhibitor, on anxiety‐related behaviors, pain sensitivity, short‐term recognition memory, and hippocampal and prefrontal cortex (PFC) brain‐derived neurotrophic factor ( BDNF ) mRNA expression in adult male and female rats. Novel object recognition memory (NORM) and behavioral parameters (anxiety‐like behaviors and pain sensitivity) were evaluated in early adulthood and after that, the hippocampi and PFC of the rat's brain were removed for the determination of BDNF mRNA expression. Our results indicated that the postnatal period administration of PCPA impaired short‐term NORM. The postnatal developmental period treatment with PCPA also increased anxiety‐like behaviors in the open field and elevated plus maze (EPM) tests. Postnatal PCPA treatment increased pain sensitivity in the hot plate test in both male and female rats, especially in female animals. In addition, postnatal days serotonin depletion decreased BDNF level in the hippocampus and PFC of both male and female rats. These findings demonstrate that serotonin plays the main role in neurodevelopment, cognitive functions, and behavior. Therefore, serotonergic system dysregulation during the developmental periods may have more adverse influences on the brain development of rats. Abstract : We used para‐chlorophenylalanine (PCPA) for serotonin depletion in postnatal days. Developmental serotonin depletion impaired the recognition memory in males and females. Serotonin depletion in postnatal days decreased the BDNF level in the brain. Developmental serotonin depletion increased the anxiety in a sex‐dependent manner. Postnatal serotonin depletion increased the pain sensitivity in both male and female rats.