Serotonin releasers increase prepulse inhibition in serotonin 1B knockout mice.
Psychopharmacology April 1, 2000 S C Dulawa, K A Scearce-Levie, R Hen et al. 26 citations
Prepulse inhibition (PPI), a normal reduction of the startle response when a weak stimulus precedes a startling one, is reduced in several neuropsychiatric disorders. The serotonin 1B (5-HT1B) receptor's role in modulating PPI was examined using 5-HT-releasing agents in wild-type (WT) and 5-HT1B knockout (1BKO) mice. MDMA and MBDB increased PPI in 1BKO mice but did not alter PPI in WT mice. In intact mice, the 5-HT1B/1D antagonist GR 127935 (3.0 mg/kg) with MDMA also increased PPI, indicating that the lack of the 5-HT1B receptor, not developmental changes, causes the PPI increase. Activation of 5-HT1B receptors by serotonin disrupts PPI.