BEHAVIORAL AND NEUROCHEMICAL ALTERATIONS FOLLOWING INTRACEREBROVENTRICULAR ADMINISTRATION OF ANTI-SEROTONIN ANTIBODIES IN ADULT BALB C MICE/

The effects of intracerebroventricular injections of serotonin (5-HT) antibodies were studied for changes in 5-HT, dopamine (DA), their meta bolites and norepinephrine (NE) as well as 5-HT mediated behavior in a dult mice. While nociceptive thresholds (tail-flick latency) were inhi bited in antibody treated animals, tremor response to 5-methoxy-N,N-di methyl tryptamine administration was increased. 5-HT and DA in the nuc leus raphe dorsalis (NRD), substantia nigra (SN), nucleus caudatus put amen (NCP) and in the substantia grisea centralis, and NE in the forme r two nuclei were significantly decreased in these animals. 5-Hydroxyi ndoleacetic acid was unaffected in all nuclei except NRD, where it was inhibited. Homovanillic acid and 3,4-dihydroxyphenylacetic acid were inhibited in all nuclei except in NCP. The brunt of insult was more ev ident in NRD and SN where all neurotransmitters were inhibited for a l onger period. 5-HT turnover was increased in all the nuclei, however o nly SN showed increased DA turnover. It may be assumed that the observ ed neurochemical and behavioral changes were the consequence of the an tibodies binding to 5-HT, which in turn influenced the anatomically an d functionally connected neurotransmitters. While the study contribute s to the existing understanding of central neurotransmitter control on behavior: it fails to delineate the underlying mechanism. The possibi lity of developing a useful, drug-free 5-HT deficient animal model for studying clinical disorders, as well as for solving some of the basic questions related to the physiological functions of 5-HT in adult ani mals are envisaged from the study. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.