Skip to main content
Journal cover image

Autoradiographic quantification of neurochemical markers of serotonin, dopamine and opioid systems in rat brain mesolimbic regions following chronic St John's wort treatment.

Publication ,  Journal Article
Chen, F; Rezvani, AH; Lawrence, AJ
Published in: Naunyn Schmiedebergs Arch Pharmacol
February 2003

Effects of chronic treatment with St John's wort (SJW, Hypericum perforatum) on neurochemical markers of serotonin, dopamine and opioid systems in mesolimbic regions of the fawn-hooded rat were investigated by quantitative autoradiography. After 10 days' treatment, SJW significantly increased [(3)H]citalopram binding to 5-HT transporters in multiple mesolimbic regions. In contrast, SJW resulted in a region-specific alteration of [(3)H]mazindol binding to dopamine transporters, such as increased binding of [(3)H]mazindol in the olfactory tubercle and decreased binding in the ventral tegmental area. In addition, SJW also resulted in differential modulation of the binding properties of 5-HT(1A)-, 5-HT(2A)- and mu-opioid receptors in a region-specific manner. The ability of SJW to affect 5-HT, dopamine and opioid systems in mesolimbic regions in the CNS, either by a direct or by indirect (adaptation) mechanism, may help to explain the efficacy of SJW in the treatment of depression clinically and in some of the behavioural effects observed in experimental rodents.

Duke Scholars

Published In

Naunyn Schmiedebergs Arch Pharmacol

DOI

ISSN

0028-1298

Publication Date

February 2003

Volume

367

Issue

2

Start / End Page

126 / 133

Location

Germany

Related Subject Headings

  • Serotonin Plasma Membrane Transport Proteins
  • Serotonin
  • Receptors, Opioid, mu
  • Receptor, Serotonin, 5-HT2A
  • Receptor, Serotonin, 5-HT1A
  • Rats
  • Radioligand Assay
  • Plant Extracts
  • Pharmacology & Pharmacy
  • Opioid Peptides
 

Citation

APA
Chicago
ICMJE
MLA
NLM
Chen, F., Rezvani, A. H., & Lawrence, A. J. (2003). Autoradiographic quantification of neurochemical markers of serotonin, dopamine and opioid systems in rat brain mesolimbic regions following chronic St John's wort treatment. Naunyn Schmiedebergs Arch Pharmacol, 367(2), 126–133. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00210-002-0666-3
Chen, Feng, Amir H. Rezvani, and Andrew J. Lawrence. “Autoradiographic quantification of neurochemical markers of serotonin, dopamine and opioid systems in rat brain mesolimbic regions following chronic St John's wort treatment.Naunyn Schmiedebergs Arch Pharmacol 367, no. 2 (February 2003): 126–33. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00210-002-0666-3.
Chen, Feng, et al. “Autoradiographic quantification of neurochemical markers of serotonin, dopamine and opioid systems in rat brain mesolimbic regions following chronic St John's wort treatment.Naunyn Schmiedebergs Arch Pharmacol, vol. 367, no. 2, Feb. 2003, pp. 126–33. Pubmed, doi:10.1007/s00210-002-0666-3.
Journal cover image

Published In

Naunyn Schmiedebergs Arch Pharmacol

DOI

ISSN

0028-1298

Publication Date

February 2003

Volume

367

Issue

2

Start / End Page

126 / 133

Location

Germany

Related Subject Headings

  • Serotonin Plasma Membrane Transport Proteins
  • Serotonin
  • Receptors, Opioid, mu
  • Receptor, Serotonin, 5-HT2A
  • Receptor, Serotonin, 5-HT1A
  • Rats
  • Radioligand Assay
  • Plant Extracts
  • Pharmacology & Pharmacy
  • Opioid Peptides