Light-activated serotonin for exploring its action in biological systems
- Authors
- Rea, A.C., Vandenberg, L.N., Ball, R.E., Snouffer, A.A., Hudson, A.G., Zhu, Y., McLain, D.E., Johnston, L.L., Lauderdale, J.D., Levin, M., and Dore, T.M.
- ID
- ZDB-PUB-140210-25
- Date
- 2013
- Source
- Chemistry & Biology 20(12): 1536-1546 (Journal)
- Registered Authors
- Ball, Rebecca, Lauderdale, James D.
- Keywords
- none
- MeSH Terms
-
- Animals
- Cells, Cultured
- Embryo, Nonmammalian/abnormalities
- Embryo, Nonmammalian/metabolism
- Embryo, Nonmammalian/radiation effects
- Light*
- Mice
- Neurons/metabolism
- Neurons/radiation effects
- Serotonin/chemistry
- Serotonin/metabolism*
- Superior Colliculi/physiology
- Superior Colliculi/radiation effects
- Trigeminal Ganglion/physiology
- Trigeminal Ganglion/radiation effects
- Xenopus laevis/embryology
- Zebrafish/physiology
- PubMed
- 24333002 Full text @ Chem. Biol.
Serotonin (5-HT) is a neuromodulator involved in regulating mood, appetite, memory, learning, pain, and establishment of left-right (LR) asymmetry in embryonic development. To explore the role of 5-HT in physiology, we have created two forms of “caged” 5-HT, BHQ-O-5HT and BHQ-N-5HT. When exposed to 365 or 740 nm light, BHQ-O-5HT releases 5-HT through one- or two-photon excitation, respectively. BHQ-O-5HT mediated changes in neural activity in cultured mouse primary sensory neurons and the trigeminal ganglion and optic tectum of intact zebrafish larvae in the form of high-amplitude spiking in response to light. In Xenopus laevis embryos, light-activated 5-HT increased the occurrence of LR patterning defects. Maximal rates of LR defects were observed when 5-HT was released at stage 5 compared with stage 8. These experiments show the potential for BHQ-caged serotonins in studying 5-HT-regulated physiological processes.