EN
The 5-HT7 receptor is one of the several serotonin (5-HT) receptor subtypes that are expressed in the dorsal raphe nucleus (DRN). Some earlier findings suggested that 5-HT7 receptors in the DRN are localized on the GABAergic interneurons and glutamatergic terminals which modulate the activity of 5-HT DRN projection neurons. The present study was aimed at finding how the 5‑HT7 receptor modulates the GABAergic and glutamatergic synaptic inputs to 5-HT DRN neurons, and whether blockade of the 5-HT7 receptor would affect the release of 5‑HT in the target structure. Male Wistar rats with microdialysis probes implanted in the prefrontal cortex (PFC) received injections of the 5-HT7 receptor antagonist SB 269970, which induced an increase in the levels of 5-HT and its metabolite, 5 hydroxyindoleacetic acid (5-HIAA) in the PFC. In another set of experiments whole-cell recordings from presumed projection neurons were carried out from DRN slices. SB 269970 application resulted in depolarization and in an increase in the firing frequency of the cells. In order to activate 5‑HT7 receptors, 5-carboxamidotryptamine (5-CT) was applied in the presence of a selective 5-HT1A receptor antagonist WAY100635. Hyperpolarization of cells and a decrease in the firing frequency were observed after activation of the 5-HT7 receptor. Application of 5-CT induced a concentration-dependent increase in the frequency of sIPSCs and a decrease in sEPSCs frequency in recorded neurons. Blockade of 5‑HT7 receptors caused opposite effects. FINANCIAL SUPPORT: Supported by the grant DEC‑2013/11/B/NZ4/04743, financed by the National Science Center, Poland, and by statutory funds from the Institute of Pharmacology Polish Academy of Sciences, Krakow, Poland.