The ontogeny of [3H]5-hydroxytryptamine binding in the lamb: effects of in vivo thyroidectomy.

The effects of congenital hypothyroidism in the late gestation ovine fetus include changes in serotonin concentrations in specific brain areas. To investigate possible ontogenic patterns of changes in 5-HT receptor function, we studied the binding characteristics of [3H]5-HT in the midbrain, hypothalamus and cerebral cortex in the late gestation ovine fetus and young lamb. We compared the binding characteristics of control fetuses to those of thyroidectomized fetuses, with or without thyroxine replacement therapy. In each of the areas examined, age-dependent changes in the receptor density (Bmax) for [3H]5-HT was observed. In cerebral cortex, Bmax was constant from 120 days gestation through the early neonatal period and increased significantly only at 25-30 days after birth. In hypothalamus, [3H]5-HT binding density decreased late in gestation (140-145 days) with a return after birth to values comparable to those at 120-125 and 130-135 days gestation. The midbrain also exhibited a significant age-dependent pattern of altered receptor density with a decrease in the 130-135 and 140-145 day gestational age groups compared to both younger and older lambs. In contrast, the affinity constant (Kd) for [3H]5-HT did not change over the ages evaluated in cerebral cortex or hypothalamus. In the midbrain, however, there was a significant increase in Kd at 1-5 days after birth compared to all other age groups. The ability of fetal thyroidectomy, with or without thyroxine replacement therapy, to alter patterns of [3H]5-HT binding was also tested.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Aging but not estrogen alters regional [3H]5-HT binding in the CNS of female Fischer 344 rats.

Age-related changes in serotonergic regulation of neuroendocrine function were investigated in female Fischer 344 rats; serotonin ([3H]5-HT) binding sites were characterized in several brain regions. Neither the number (Bmax) nor the affinity (Kd) of [3H]5-HT sites were altered in the frontal cortex of reproductively young and senescent groups. However, a significant decline in receptor affinity was observed in the hypothalamus and midbrain dorsal raphe nucleus. An increase in the density of binding sites was also observed in the hypothalamus with advancing age. Acute 48 h exposure to estrogen failed to influence [3H]5-HT binding site characteristics in these brain regions. In summary, these results suggest that age-related changes in [3H]5-HT binding are regionally specific. Moreover, the observed changes in hypothalamic 5-HT function may underlie neuroendocrine aging events.