Changes in the firing activity of serotonergic neurons in the dorsal raphe nucleus in a rat model of Parkinson’s disease

In the present study, changes in the neuronal activity of serotonergic neurons in the dorsal raphe nucleus (DRN) and the effect of the selective 5-HT1A receptor antagonist WAY-100635 in a rat model of Parkinson’s disease (PD) were investigated by using extracellular single unit recording. Rat model of PD was produced by microinjection of 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA) into the substantia nigra pars compacta on the right side of the brain. The results showed that the mean spontaneous firing rate of DRN serotonergic neurons in the control and 6-OHDA-lesioned rats were (1.76±0.11) spikes/s (n=24) and (2.43±0.17) spikes/s (n=21), respectively. The firing rate of serotonergic neurons in 6-OHDA-lesioned rats was significantly higher than that in the control rats (P< 0.001). In the control rats, 92% (22/24) of the neurons fired regularly and 8% (2/24) fired in bursts. In rats with 6-OHDA lesions, 9% (2/21) of neurons fired regularly, 43% (9/21) exhibited irregular pattern and 48% (10/21) fired in bursts. The percentage of DRN serotonergic neurons firing in bursts was obviously higher in 6-OHDA-lesioned rats than that in the control rats (P<0.001). Local injection of WAY-100635 (3 μg in 200 nL) into the DRN significantly increased the firing rate of serotonergic neurons with no change in firing pattern in the control rats (n=19, P<0.002), but did not change the firing rate and firing pattern of serotonergic neurons in 6OHDA-lesioned rats (n=17, P>0.05). These results suggest the dysfunction of 5-HT1A receptor in 6-OHDA-lesioned rats and the involvement of the DRN in the pathophysiological mechanism of PD.