Serotonergic Regulation of the Orexin/Hypocretin Neurons through the 5-HT1AReceptor

Abstract

Both orexin and serotonin (5-HT) have important roles in the regulation of sleep-wakefulness, as well as in feeding behavior. We examined the effects of 5-HT on orexin/hypocretin neurons, using hypothalamic slices prepared from orexin/enhanced green fluorescent protein (EGFP) transgenic mice in which EGFP is expressed exclusively in orexin neurons. Patch-clamp recording from EGFP-expressing cells showed that 5-HT hyperpolarized all orexin neurons in a concentration-dependent manner. The response was inhibited by the 5-HT_1Areceptor antagonist WAY100635. A 5-HT_1Areceptor agonist, 8-hydroxy-2-(dl-N-propyl-amino)tetralin, also evoked hyperpolarization on orexin neurons with potency comparable with 5-HT. A low concentration of Ba²⁺(30 μm) inhibited 5-HT-induced hyperpolarization. Single-channel recording revealed that the conductance of 5-HT-induced channel activity was 33.8 pS, which is in good agreement with that of the G-protein-coupled inward rectifier potassium channel (GIRK). Moreover, 5-HT_1Areceptor-like immunoreactivity was observed on orexin neurons, and 5-HT transporter immunoreactive nerve endings are in close apposition to orexin neurons. Intracerebroventricular injection of the 5-HT_1Areceptor-selective antagonist WAY100635 (100 ng) increased locomotor activity during the latter half of dark phase in wild-type mice but not inorexin/ataxin-3mice in which orexin neurons are specifically ablated, suggesting that activation of orexin neurons is necessary for the WAY100635-induced increase in locomotor activity. These results indicate that 5-HT hyperpolarizes orexin neurons through the 5-HT_1Areceptor and subsequent activation of the GIRK and that this inhibitory serotonergic input to the orexin neurons is likely to be important for the physiological regulation of this neuropeptide system.