engleski

BEHAVIORAL RESPONSE IN WISTAR-ZAGREB 5HT MODEL OF RATS WITH CONSTITUTIONALLY ALTERED SEROTONIN TRANSPORTER

Serotonin (5HT), a monoamine neurotransmitter plays an important modulatory role in a variety of behaviors and behavioral disorders including anxiety and depression, as well in cognitive performances. In order to investigate the relationship between constitutional differences in serotonergic activity and emotive/cognitive functions, we use Wistar-Zagreb 5HT rats, an animal model with constitutionally altered serotonin homeostasis, developed in our laboratory by selective breeding toward extremes of peripheral serotonin transporter (5HTT). Selective breeding led also to the alterations in the brain serotonergic homeostasis between high-5HT and low- 5HT sublibnes of this model. Different forms of behaviour were tested in rats from 5HT-sublines of Wistar-zagreb 5HT rats as follows: anxiety-related behaviour, depression- related behaviour and memory and learning In the elevated plus maze test animals from high- 5HT subline had lower score in time spent in open arms, showing a higher level of anxiety-related behaviour. In the Morris water maze test, high-5HT rats learned platform position faster than low-5HT rats, but there were no differences in memory score between 5HT-sublines. In the forced swim test, low-5HT animals showed increased immobility, being an indication for their increased depression-like phenotype. Differences in multiple types of behaviour between animals from 5HT-sublines, make this animal model a valuable tool for further investigation of serotonergic modulation of various aspects of emotional behaviours and cognitive functions.

serotonin; Wistar-Zagreb 5HT rats; anxiety; depression; memory; learning

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