Serotonergic modulation of Neural activities in the entorhinal cortex

International Journal of Physiology, Pathophysiology and Pharmacology

Saobo Lei¹ 

关键词: Glutamate;    GABA;    synaptic transmission;    epilepsy;    neurotransmitter;    G-protein coupled receptor;   

DOI  :  

学科分类：生理学与病理学

来源: e-Century Publishing Corporation

【 摘 要 】

The entorhinal cortex (EC) is considered as the gate to control the flow of information into and out of the hippocampus. The EC is important for numerous physiological functions such as emotional control, learning and memory and pathological disorders including Alzheimer’s disease, schizophrenia and temporal lobe epilepsy. Serotonin is a classical neurotransmitter which may modify these physiological functions and pathology of neurological diseases. The EC receives profuse serotonergic innervations from the raphe nuclei in the brainstem and expresses high density of serotonergic receptors including 5-HT_1A, 5-HT_1D, 5-HT_1E, 5-HT_2A, 5-HT₃ and 5-HT₆. The prominent innervation by serotonergic neurons and the dense expression of serotonergic receptors in the EC suggest that serotonin is a major modulator in this brain region. Serotonin exerts inhibitory effects in the EC. Serotonin hyperpolarizes entorhinal neurons and inhibits the excitatory synaptic transmission via activation of 5-HT_1A receptors but facilitates GABA release via activation of 5-HT_2A receptors. Both 5-HT_1A and 5-HT_2A receptors are required for serotonin-induced inhibition of epileptiform activity although 5-HT₃ receptors may be involved in serotonin-mediated inhibition of acetylcholine release in the EC. Furthermore, the functions of serotonin in the EC may be implicated in Parkinson’s disease, Alzheimer’s disease and depression. Thus, understanding the roles of serotonergic modulation in the EC is of major clinical importance. Here, I review recent findings concerning the effects of serotonin on neural circuitry activity in the EC.

【 授权许可】

Unknown