Effect of corticosterone on serotonin and catecholamine receptors and uptake sites in rat frontal cortex

The effects of corticosterone (1 mg/kg per day for 7 days) on serotonin 5-HT 1A 5-HT 2A 5-HT uptake sites, and α 2-adrenergic receptor sites were measured. Corticosterone treatment significantly decreased the number of 5-HT 1A receptor sites ( B max = 108 ± 8.20fmol/mg protein and 152.31 ± 13.36 fmol/mg protein in corticosterone- and vehicle-treated rats, respectively). No significant differences were found in other measures. It is possible that corticosteroids exert some of their behavioral effects via regulation of 5-HT 1A sites in frontal cortex.