In vitro regulation of serotonin transporter activity by protein kinase A and nicotinic acetylcholine receptors in the prefrontal cortex of rats.

We investigated the effect of in vitro exposure to nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs), agonists, antagonists, and protein kinase A (PKA) modulators on the activity of the serotonin transporter (SERT) in prefrontocortical (PFC) synaptosomes. The plasma membrane SERT is an active transport mechanism specific for serotonin. Receptors and second messengers capable of altering transporter activity would be expected to have profound effects on serotonergic neurotransmission and on functions involving serotonergic input, such as cognition, anxiety, and mood.

Acute and chronic effects of nicotine on serotonin uptake in prefrontal cortex and hippocampus of rats.

We sought to investigate the effect of nicotine exposure (chronic and acute) on serotonin transporter (SERT) activity in two regions of the brain important for behavioral effects of nicotine. We first looked at the effects of chronic nicotine exposure (0.7 mg/kg nicotine, twice a day for 10 days) on [(3)H]5-HT uptake in prefrontal cortex (PFC) and hippocampus of rats.