Effect of repeated treatment with electroconvulsive shock (ECS) on serotonin receptor density and turnover in the rat cerebral cortex

Abstract

The effect of repeated treatment with electroconvulsive shock (ECS) on 5-HT1A and 5-HT2 serotonin receptor density and on serotonin receptor turnover was measured in the rat cerebral cortex. Repeated treatment with ECS produced an increase in the density of 5-HT1A and tended to increase the specific binding of 5-HT2 serotonin receptors. However, the turnover of those receptors remained unchanged. These results are in agreement with previous studies which indicate that repeated ECS treatment up-regulates 5-HT2 receptors and support the contention that 5-HT1A receptors are up-regulated after repeated treatment with ECS; moreover, these data demonstrate that the dynamic characteristics (turnover rates) of serotonin receptors (5-HT1A, 5-HT2) are unaffected after repeated ECS administration.