Skip to main content
NCBI home page
Wiley - PMC COVID-19 Collection logoLink to Wiley - PMC COVID-19 Collection
. 2004 Oct 11;17(4):428–434. doi: 10.1002/jnr.490170415

Serotonin turnover rate in raphe and cortex of mice infected with Venezuelan equine encephalomyelitis virus

L Lima 1,✉, R Walder 2, F Obregón 1, B Drujan 1
PMCID: PMC7167128  PMID: 2442407

Abstract

The turnover of serotonin (5HT) was determined in the raphe area and cortex of mice infected with Pixuna, a strain of intermediate virulence of Venezuelan equine encephalomyelitis virus (VEEV). NMRI‐mice, 24 days old, were inoculated intracerebrally (ic) with 300 LDS0 of the virus. The animals were sacrificed 4, 7, 15, 21, 30, and 60 days postinoculation. 5HT and 5‐hydrodryindolacetic acid (SHIAA) in raphe and cortex were determined by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) with electrochemical detection. Turnover rate of 5HT was determined by the administration of pargyline, p‐chlorophenylalanine, and probenecid. The content of 5HT or SHIAA and 5HT/5HIAA ratios were not significantly different in infected compared with control mice. However, a decrease of 5HT turnover rate, determined after pargyline treatment, was observed in the raphe and not in the cortex of infected mice at 4 and 7 days after the inoculation. The turnover rate/(5HT)0 in raphe is decreased in infected mice with signs of illness, suggesting a lower density of 5HT innervation in this brain area. The administration of p‐chlorophenylalanine and probenecid showed that the cortex is also affected, but the synthesis is less modified than metabolism or elimination. Cell bodies of 5HT neurons seem to be more susceptible than projections to infection by Pixuna strain of VEEV.

Keywords: serotonin, turnover, viral encephalitis

References

  1. Aghajanian GK, Kubar MJ, Roth RH (1973): Serotonin containing neuronal perikarya and terminals: differential effects of p‐chlorophenylalanine. Brain Res. 54: 85–101. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  2. Anderson GM, Young JG, Batter DK, Young SN, Cohen DJ, Shaywitz BA (1981): Determination of indoles and catechols in rat brain and pineal using liquid chromatography with fluorometric and amperometric detection. J. Chromat. 223: 315–320. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  3. Baumgarten HG, Schlossberger HG (1984): In (Schlossberger HG, Kochen K., Linzen B., Steinhart H. (eds)) “Progress in Tryptophan and Serotonin Research.” Berlin: Walter de Gruyter, pp 173–188. [Google Scholar]
  4. Bonilla E., Ryder S., Hernandez H. (1975): Venezuelan equine enceph‐alomyelitis virus infection and monoamine metabolism in mouse brain. I. Neurochem. 25: 259–260. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  5. Bonilla R., Ryder E., Ryder S. (1980): GABA metabolism in Venezuelan equine encephalomyelitis virus infection. Neurochem. Res. 5: 209–215. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  6. Bonilla E., Hernandez H., Salazar M., Rangel P. (1982): Effect of Venezuelan equine encephalomyelitis virus infection on brain choline acetyltransferase and acetylcholinesterase activities. Brain Res. 253: 330–333. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  7. Bonilla E., Salazar M., Estevez J., Hernandez H., Rangel P. (1984): 3H‐Spiroperidol binding decreases in brains of rats infected with Venezuelan equine encephalomyelitis virus. Experientia 40: 868–869. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  8. Crow T., Johnstone E., Ownes O., Fernier J., MacMillan J., Caroy R., Tyrell D. (1979) Characteristics of patients with schizophrenia or neurological disorder and virus‐like agent. Lancet 842–844. [DOI] [PubMed]
  9. Damasio AR, Vanhoese GW (1985): The limbic system and the localization of herpes simplex virus encephalitis. J. Neurol. Neurosurg. Psychiatry 48: 297–301. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  10. Delamonte SM (1985): Selective vulnerability of particular central neurons system regions to east equine encephalitis virus infection in humans. J. Neuropathol. Exp. Neurol. 44: 358–361. [Google Scholar]
  11. Delsedime M., Cantello R., Durelli L., Gilli M., Giordana TM (1984): A syndrome resembling limbic encephalitis, associated with branchial carcinoma, but without neuropathological abnormality: A case report. J. Neurol. 231: 165–166. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  12. Fishman PS, Gass JS, Swovelan PT, Lave E., Highkim MK, Weiss SR (1985): Infection of basal ganglia by murine coronavirus. Science 299: 877–879. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  13. Karoum F., Korpi ER, Linnoila M., Chuang LW, Whatt RJ (1984): Reduced metabolism and turnover rates of rat brain dopamine, norepinephrine and serotonin by chronic desimipramine and zimelidine treatments. Eur. J. Pharmacol. 100: 137–144. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  14. King TS, Steinlechner S., Steger RW (1985): Comparison of diurnal and nocturnal rates of 5‐hydroxytryptamine turnover in the rat mediobasal hypothalamus. Experientia 41: 417–419. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  15. Koehler K., Guth W. (1979): The mimiclung of mania in benign herpes simplex encephalitis. Biol. Psychiatry 14: 405–408. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  16. Lane JD, Aprison MH (1978): The flux of radioactive label through components of the serotonergic system following the injection of 3H‐tryptophan product‐precursor anomalies providing evidence that serotonin exists in multiple pools. J. Neurochem. 30: 671–678. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  17. Lima L., Diaz Borges JM, Walder R. (1983): Influence of Venezuelan equine encephalomyelitis virus on catecholamine metabolism in mouse CNS: Early changes in turnover rates and content. J. Neurosci. Res. 10: 61–71. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  18. Levine S., Bonilla E., Ryder S., Salazar M., Rangel P. (1981): Tyrosine hydroxylase activity in Venezuelan equine encephalomyelitis virus infection. Neurochem. Res. 6: 691–697. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  19. Lowry O., Rosembourgh R., Tarr L., Randall R. (1952) Protein measurement with the folin phenol reagent. J. Biol. Chem. 195: 265–275. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  20. Lycke E., Ross BE (1969): Aggression in mice associated with changes in the monoamine metabolism of the brain. Experientia 25: 951–953. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  21. Lycke E., Ross BE (1972): The monoamine metabolism in viral encephalitis of mouse. II. Turnover of monoamine in mice infected with herpes simplex virus. Brain Res. 44: 603–613. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  22. Lycke E., Modigh K., Ross BE (1970): The monoaminc metabolism in viral encephalitis of the mouse. I. Virological and biochemical results. Brain Res. 23: 235–256. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  23. Maurizi CP (1985a): Influenza and mania, a possible connection with locus coeruleus. South Med. J. 78: 207–209. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  24. Maurizi CP (1985b): Raphe nucleus encephalopathy (myalgic enceph‐alomyelitis, epidemic neuromyastcnia). Med. Hypothesis 16: 351–354. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  25. Meek JL, Lofstrandh S. (1976): Tryptophan hydroxylase in discrete brain nuclei: Comparison of activity in vitru and in vivo. Eur. J. Pharmacol. 37: 377–380. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  26. Miyasaki K., Takayashi T. (1977): Parkinsonism following encephalitis of unknown etiology, J. Neuropathol. Exp. Neurol. 36: 1–8. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  27. Neckers LM, Meek JL (1976): Measurement of 5HT turnover rate in discrete nuclei of rat brain. Life Sci. 19: 1579–1584. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  28. Neff NH, Tozer TN, Brodie BB (1967): Application of steady state kinetics to studies of the transfer of 5‐hydroxyindolacetic acid from brain to plasma. J. Pharmacol. Exp. Ther. 152: 214–218. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  29. Rhodes RH, Novak R., Beattic JF, West HM, and Whetsell WO (1984): Immunoperoxidase demonstration of herpes simplex virus Type‐1 in the brain of a psychotic patient without history of encephalitis. Clin. Neurol. 3: 59–67. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  30. Tozer TN, Neff NH, Brodie BB (1966): Application of steady state kinetics of the synthesis rate and turnover tiem of serotonin in the brain of normal and reserpine‐treated rats. J. Pharmacol. Exp. Ther. 153: 177–182. [Google Scholar]
  31. Tyrell T., Crow T., Parry P., Johnstone E., Terrier J. (1979): Possible virus schizophrenia and some neurological disorders Lancet: i: 839–841. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  32. Walder R., Bradish C. (1979): Multi‐factorial specifications of virushost interactions: Studies with strains of Venezuelan equine encephalomyelitis virus in mice. J. Gen. Virol. 44: 373–382. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  33. Whitton PW, Oreskovic D., Jernej B., Bulat M. (1985): Effect of valproic acid on 5‐hydroxytryptamine turnover in mouse brain. J. Pharmacol. 37: 199–200. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  34. Winer BJ (1971): “Statistical Principles in experimental design,” 2nd Ed. New York: McGraw‐Hill. [Google Scholar]

Articles from Journal of Neuroscience Research are provided here courtesy of Wiley

RESOURCES