Utility of organotypic raphe slice cultures to investigate the effects of sustained exposure to selective 5-HT reuptake inhibitors on 5-HT release.

ABSTRACT:

Background and purpose

Selective 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT, serotonin) reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) are widely used antidepressants and their therapeutic effect requires several weeks of drug administration. The delayed onset of SSRI efficacy is due to the slow neuroadaptive changes of the 5-hydroxytryptaminergic (5-HTergic) system. In this study, we examined the acute and chronic effects of SSRIs on the 5-HTergic system using rat raphe slice cultures.

Experimental approach

For organotypic raphe slice cultures, mesencephalic coronal sections containing dorsal and median raphe nuclei were prepared from neonatal Wistar rats and cultured for 14-16 days.

Key results

Acute treatment with citalopram, paroxetine or fluoxetine (0.1-10 µM) in the slice cultures slightly increas

SUBMITTER: Nagayasu K 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3010565 | biostudies-literature | 2010 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature