查看文章

The bed nucleus of the stria terminalis (BNST) plays a critical role in regulating the behavioral response to stress. Stressors that activate the BNST also activate serotonergic (5-HT) systems. Hence, maladaptive changes of 5-HT receptor expression may contribute to stress-induced anxiety disorders. The BNST contains three neuronal types, Type I–III neurons. However, little is known about 5-HT receptor subtypes mRNA expression in these neurons, or whether it can be modulated by stress. Whole-cell patch clamp recording from Type I–III neurons was used in conjunction with single cell reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) to characterize 5-HT receptor mRNA expression, and examine the effects of stress on this expression. We report that Type I neurons expressed mRNA transcripts predominantly for 5-HT_1A and 5-HT₇ receptors. Type II neurons expressed transcripts for every 5-HT receptor …