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  • Title: Effects of conditioned fear stress on serotonin neurotransmission and freezing behavior in rats.
    Author: Hashimoto S, Inoue T, Koyama T.
    Journal: Eur J Pharmacol; 1999 Jul 28; 378(1):23-30. PubMed ID: 10478561.
    Abstract:
    In an attempt to clarify the role of the brain serotonergic system in the psychopathology of anxiety, we examined the effect of a psychological stress, conditioned fear stress, on extracellular serotonin (5-hydroxytryptamine, 5-HT) concentrations in the rat medial prefrontal cortex using the method of in vivo microdialysis, while simultaneously observing conditioned fear stress-induced freezing behavior, an index of anxiety. Conditioned fear stress increased extracellular 5-HT levels in the medial prefrontal cortex, and this 5-HT level increase was followed by a resolution of the freezing behavior. A dose of 10 mg/kg of a selective 5-HT reuptake inhibitor, citalopram, administered 60 min before exposure to conditioned fear stress increased extracellular 5-HT concentrations immediately and potently, reducing freezing behavior. These findings strongly suggest that facilitation of brain 5-HT neurotransmission decreases anxiety, which is in agreement with the clinical reports that selective 5-HT reuptake inhibitors are effective in the treatment of anxiety disorders.
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