Cookies on this website

We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. If you click 'Accept all cookies' we'll assume that you are happy to receive all cookies and you won't see this message again. If you click 'Reject all non-essential cookies' only necessary cookies providing core functionality such as security, network management, and accessibility will be enabled. Click 'Find out more' for information on how to change your cookie settings.

The presence and abundance of 5-HT1A and 5-HT2A receptor mRNAs in post mortem human hippocampus was investigated using a novel quantitative reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) technique using cyclophilin mRNA as an internal standard. 5-HT1A and 5-HT2A receptor mRNAs were each co-amplified with varying dilutions of cyclophilin primers, and their abundance expressed as a ratio of cyclophilin mRNA. Using this technique in combination with quantitative autoradiography we have investigated the effect of aging on hippocampal 5-HT1A and 5-HT2A receptor mRNA abundance and binding site densities. There was a significant negative correlation between hippocampal 5-HT1A receptor binding site densities and age and a similar trend for 5-HT1A receptor mRNA abundance. Neither 5-HT2A receptor binding site densities nor mRNA abundance were affected by age. Both 5-HT1A and 5-HT2A receptor binding site densities in individual subjects correlated significantly with abundance of their encoding mRNA. This study demonstrates that 5-HT1A and 5-HT2A receptor mRNAs can be measured in small samples of human brain. Combining studies of mRNA with those directed at binding sites will help reveal mechanisms underlying changes in expression of these receptors in various neuropsychiatric disorders.

Original publication

DOI

10.1016/0304-3940(94)90296-8

Type

Journal article

Journal

Neurosci Lett

Publication Date

29/08/1994

Volume

178

Pages

85 - 89

Keywords

8-Hydroxy-2-(di-n-propylamino)tetralin, Adult, Aging, Amino Acid Isomerases, Base Sequence, Binding Sites, Carrier Proteins, Chaperonins, DNA Primers, Hippocampus, Humans, Ketanserin, Middle Aged, Molecular Sequence Data, Peptidylprolyl Isomerase, Polymerase Chain Reaction, RNA, Messenger, RNA-Directed DNA Polymerase, Receptors, Serotonin, Tritium