Mechanisms underlying the long-term behavioral effects of traumatic experience in rats: The role of serotonin/noradrenaline balance and NMDA receptors

摘要: Traumatic stressors induce long-lasting changes in behavior. It is believed that all three glutamatergic, serotonergic and noradrenergic neurotransmission play a role the development of such behavioral changes, but their relative importance relationship poorly understood. We have shown previously single exposure rats to electric shocks induces social avoidance for about 10 days. Here we assessed 24 h after shock with chemically lesioned neurons. The effects NMDA receptor blocker MK-801 were also studied. When serotonin/noradrenaline balance was shifted towards dominance via chemical lesions, dysfunction markedly attenuated. disruption (that lead dominance) significantly increased deficit. Shock responding not secondary lesion-induced differences Noteworthy, brain noradrenaline/serotonin ratio correlated negatively shock-induced avoidance, suggesting rather than absolute levels are important this respect. In line assumption, double lesions had minor on these monoaminergic systems modulate, do mediate blockade receptors abolished stress-induced both when applied before testing. confirmed long-term traumatic experience result from glutamatergic activation, which mediated by receptors. deficit modulated between neurotransmission, possibly activation.