Abstract
Serotonin (5-HT) is one of the main transmitters in the nervous system. Serotonergic neurons in the raphe nuclei in the brainstem innervate most parts of the central nervous system including motoneurons in the spinal cord and brainstem. This review will focus on the modulatory role that 5-HT exerts on motoneurons and its physiological consequences. The somato-dendritic compartments of motoneurons are densely innervated by serotonergic synaptic boutons and several receptors are expressed in the membrane of motoneurons including 5-HT1A, 5-HT1B, 5-HT1D, 5-HT2A, 5-HT2B, 5-HT2C and 5-HT5A. The activation of serotonergic receptors induces a general increase of the excitability of motoneurons through the modulation of several classes of ion channels. 5-HT depolarizes motoneurons towards the threshold for action potentials by inhibiting leak conductances and promoting a hyperpolarization activated cationic current. At the same time, 5-HT increases the firing frequency by inhibiting the small Ca2+ activated K+ conductance (SK) responsible for the medium afterhyperpolarization (AHP) following action potentials. 5-HT also promotes persistent inward currents mediated by voltage sensitive Ca2+ and Na+ conductances, producing a sustained depolarization and an amplification of synaptic inputs. Under pathological conditions, such as after a spinal cord injury, the promotion of persistent inward currents by serotonin and/or the overexpression of autoactive serotonergic receptors may contribute to motoneuronal excitability, muscle spasms and spasticity and hence, impairment of stereotyped motor behaviors such as locomotion, ejaculation and micturition.
Keywords: Serotonin, motoneuron, ion channel, modulation, plateau potential, afterhyperpolarization, neuroplasticity, fatigue, motor control, spinal cord, brainstem, spinal cord injury.
Current Pharmaceutical Design
Title:Modulation of the Intrinsic Properties of Motoneurons by Serotonin
Volume: 19 Issue: 24
Author(s): Jean-Francois Perrier, Hanne Borger Rasmussen, Rasmus Kordt Christensen and Anders Victor Petersen
Affiliation:
Keywords: Serotonin, motoneuron, ion channel, modulation, plateau potential, afterhyperpolarization, neuroplasticity, fatigue, motor control, spinal cord, brainstem, spinal cord injury.
Abstract: Serotonin (5-HT) is one of the main transmitters in the nervous system. Serotonergic neurons in the raphe nuclei in the brainstem innervate most parts of the central nervous system including motoneurons in the spinal cord and brainstem. This review will focus on the modulatory role that 5-HT exerts on motoneurons and its physiological consequences. The somato-dendritic compartments of motoneurons are densely innervated by serotonergic synaptic boutons and several receptors are expressed in the membrane of motoneurons including 5-HT1A, 5-HT1B, 5-HT1D, 5-HT2A, 5-HT2B, 5-HT2C and 5-HT5A. The activation of serotonergic receptors induces a general increase of the excitability of motoneurons through the modulation of several classes of ion channels. 5-HT depolarizes motoneurons towards the threshold for action potentials by inhibiting leak conductances and promoting a hyperpolarization activated cationic current. At the same time, 5-HT increases the firing frequency by inhibiting the small Ca2+ activated K+ conductance (SK) responsible for the medium afterhyperpolarization (AHP) following action potentials. 5-HT also promotes persistent inward currents mediated by voltage sensitive Ca2+ and Na+ conductances, producing a sustained depolarization and an amplification of synaptic inputs. Under pathological conditions, such as after a spinal cord injury, the promotion of persistent inward currents by serotonin and/or the overexpression of autoactive serotonergic receptors may contribute to motoneuronal excitability, muscle spasms and spasticity and hence, impairment of stereotyped motor behaviors such as locomotion, ejaculation and micturition.
Export Options
About this article
Cite this article as:
Perrier Jean-Francois, Rasmussen Borger Hanne, Christensen Kordt Rasmus and Petersen Victor Anders, Modulation of the Intrinsic Properties of Motoneurons by Serotonin, Current Pharmaceutical Design 2013; 19 (24) . https://dx.doi.org/10.2174/13816128113199990341
DOI https://dx.doi.org/10.2174/13816128113199990341 |
Print ISSN 1381-6128 |
Publisher Name Bentham Science Publisher |
Online ISSN 1873-4286 |
Call for Papers in Thematic Issues
"Tuberculosis Prevention, Diagnosis and Drug Discovery"
The Nobel Prize-winning discoveries of Mycobacterium tuberculosis and streptomycin have enabled an appropriate diagnosis and an effective treatment of tuberculosis (TB). Since then, many newer diagnosis methods and drugs have been saving millions of lives. Despite advances in the past, TB is still a leading cause of infectious disease mortality ...read more
Current Pharmaceutical challenges in the treatment and diagnosis of neurological dysfunctions
Neurological dysfunctions (MND, ALS, MS, PD, AD, HD, ALS, Autism, OCD etc..) present significant challenges in both diagnosis and treatment, often necessitating innovative approaches and therapeutic interventions. This thematic issue aims to explore the current pharmaceutical landscape surrounding neurological disorders, shedding light on the challenges faced by researchers, clinicians, and ...read more
Emerging and re-emerging diseases
Faced with a possible endemic situation of COVID-19, the world has experienced two important phenomena, the emergence of new infectious diseases and/or the resurgence of previously eradicated infectious diseases. Furthermore, the geographic distribution of such diseases has also undergone changes. This context, in turn, may have a strong relationship with ...read more
Melanoma and Non-Melanoma Skin Cancer Treatment: Standard of Care and Recent Advances
In this thematic issue, we aim to provide a standard of care of the diagnosis and treatment of melanoma and non-melanoma skin cancer. The editor will invite authors from different countries who will write review articles of melanoma and non-melanoma skin cancers. The Diagnosis, Staging, Surgical Treatment, Non-Surgical Treatment all ...read more
- Author Guidelines
- Graphical Abstracts
- Fabricating and Stating False Information
- Research Misconduct
- Post Publication Discussions and Corrections
- Publishing Ethics and Rectitude
- Increase Visibility of Your Article
- Archiving Policies
- Peer Review Workflow
- Order Your Article Before Print
- Promote Your Article
- Manuscript Transfer Facility
- Editorial Policies
- Allegations from Whistleblowers
- Announcements
Related Articles
-
Retinal Ganglion Cell Gene Therapy and Visual System Repair
Current Gene Therapy Syntheses, Transformations and Pharmaceutical Applications of Kynurenic Acid Derivatives
Current Medicinal Chemistry Differential Splicing, Disease and Drug Targets
Infectious Disorders - Drug Targets Synthetic Sustained Gene Delivery Systems
Current Topics in Medicinal Chemistry Reducing the Risk of Major Elective Non-cardiac Surgery: Is there a Role for Levosimendan in the Preoperative Optimization of Cardiac Function?
Current Drug Targets Glia as a Turning Point in the Therapeutic Strategy of Parkinsons Disease
CNS & Neurological Disorders - Drug Targets Patent on Biomarkers in Medical Research: A Focus on Neuropsychiatric Disorders
Recent Patents on Biomarkers An Update in the Management of Obesity: The Weight of CNS Targets
Recent Patents on CNS Drug Discovery (Discontinued) Non-canonical Molecular Targets for Novel Analgesics: Intracellular Calcium and HCN Channels
Current Neuropharmacology Role of Neural Stem Cells in Parkinsons Disease
Current Signal Transduction Therapy Characterization of Endogenous Neural Progenitor Cells after Experimental Ischemic Stroke
Current Neurovascular Research Chondroitin Sulfate, a Major Niche Substance of Neural Stem Cells, and Cell Transplantation Therapy of Neurodegeneration Combined with Niche Modification
Current Stem Cell Research & Therapy Blood-Brain Barrier Alterations in MDX Mouse, An Animal Model of the Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy
Current Neurovascular Research Intravenous Application of Allogenic Peripheral Blood-Derived Mesenchymal Stem Cells: A Safety Assessment in 291 Equine Recipients
Current Stem Cell Research & Therapy Present Drug Therapy of Demyelinating Disorders
Current Drug Therapy Advanced Magnetic Resonance Imaging Techniques in the Preterm Brain: Methods and Applications
Current Pediatric Reviews Ginsenoside RB1 Reduces Neurologic Damage, is Anti-Apoptotic, and Down-Regulates p53 and BAX in Subarachnoid Hemorrhage
Current Neurovascular Research Astrocyte Signaling and Multiple Sclerosis
Current Signal Transduction Therapy Brain Targeting of siRNA via Intranasal Pathway
Current Pharmaceutical Design Neurotrophin Receptor Signaling as a Therapeutic Target for Huntington's Disease
CNS & Neurological Disorders - Drug Targets