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.
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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 |
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