Abstract
Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) is a novel procedure which has proven effective in the treatment of major depression. We administered rTMS chronically to rats in order to determine whether this procedure affected serotonergic neurotransmission in the prefrontal cortex. Basal 5-HT levels, and the effects of challenges with the 5-HT(1A) receptor agonist 8-OH-DPAT and the 5-HT(1B) antagonist GR 127935 on 5-HT levels were determined using in vivo microdialysis. Rats which had undergone chronic rTMS showed reduced responses to both challenges, indicating subsensitivity of both the presynaptic 5-HT(1A) autoreceptors situated somatodendritically in the raphe nuclei and the 5-HT(1B) autoreceptors situated on nerve terminals. Since such subsensitivity has been demonstrated after other antidepressant treatments, our results indicate that these treatments and rTMS may have a common mechanism of action. (C) 2000 Lippincott Williams and Wilkins.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 2925-2929 |
| Number of pages | 5 |
| Journal | NeuroReport |
| Volume | 11 |
| Issue number | 13 |
| DOIs | |
| State | Published - 11 Sep 2000 |
| Externally published | Yes |
Keywords
- Microdialysis
- Prefrontal cortex
- rTMS
- Serotonin
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- General Neuroscience