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Serotonin depletion reduces both acquisition and expression of context-conditioned fear

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  17 February 2021

S. Melker Hagsäter Open the ORCID record for S. Melker Hagsäter [Opens in a new window] ,
Robert Pettersson ,
Axel Holmäng  and
Elias Eriksson
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Abstract

Objective:

Whereas numerous experimental and clinical studies suggest a complex involvement of serotonin in the regulation of anxiety, it remains to be clarified if the dominating impact of this transmitter is best described as anxiety-reducing or anxiety-promoting. The aim of this study was to assess the impact of serotonin depletion on acquisition, consolidation, and expression of conditioned fear.

Methods:

Male Sprague–Dawley rats were exposed to foot shocks as unconditioned stimulus and assessed with respect to freezing behaviour when re-subjected to context. Serotonin depletion was achieved by administration of a serotonin synthesis inhibitor, para-chlorophenylalanine (PCPA) (300 mg/kg daily × 3), (i) throughout the period from (and including) acquisition to (and including) expression, (ii) during acquisition but not expression, (iii) after acquisition only, and (iv) during expression only.

Results:

The time spent freezing was significantly reduced in animals that were serotonin-depleted during the entire period from (and including) acquisition to (and including) expression, as well as in those being serotonin-depleted during either acquisition only or expression only. In contrast, PCPA administrated immediately after acquisition, that is during memory consolidation, did not impact the expression of conditioned fear.

Conclusion:

Intact serotonergic neurotransmission is important for both acquisition and expression of context-conditioned fear.

Keywords

anxietyserotoninpsychopharmacology
Type
Original Article
Information
Acta Neuropsychiatrica , Volume 33 , Issue 3 , June 2021 , pp. 148 - 155
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Copyright
© The Author(s), 2021. Published by Cambridge University Press on behalf of Scandinavian College of Neuropsychopharmacology

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