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Neuroscience
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Biomedical Science
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Research/Clinical
Abstract
Background: Serotonin is a neurotransmitter that has been found to have a wide range of effects on not just the neuropsychological processes but has also been found to exert effects outside the central nervous system (CNS); regulating numerous biological processes, such as metabolism, gastrointestinal system, reproductive function, and even the cardiovascular system. However, there is still a limited understanding of how serotonin affects all these systems due to its complexity and ability to regulate homeostasis. This project aims to create a stronger foundation of knowledge about serotonin and its influence on the interaction between the CNS, behavior, and cardiac function by using a Syrian hamster animal model.
Methods: In this study, the Syrian hamster (Mesocricetus auratus) was used as an animal model and cannulated through stereotaxic surgery to test the hypothesis that increased levels of serotonin induced via a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) (Fluoxetine) administered into the brain modulate cardiovascular function in the hamster. One adult male and one adult female were anesthetized with isoflurane, and cardiovascular data were recorded using the INDUS Rodent Surgical Monitor. Baseline cardiovascular measures were taken before administering 200 nl of fluoxetine at a concentration of 1 nM into the Interfascicular Nucleus (IF)/Ventral Tegmental Area (VTA), a brain region important for reward processing and social interactions. After the microinjection, each animal was recorded for ten minutes and soon after given an hour recovery time to allow the medication to spread and give the animals time off the anesthetic. After the one-hour mark, animals were once again anesthetized and recorded for the next 30 minutes. This occurred over five days, one round of testing each day. ECG recordings consisted of beats per minute, breath rates per minute, and core temperature taken every 30 seconds.
Results: Both hamsters showed a general trend of a decreasing heart rate after the drug administration. For the female hamster the baseline average BPM for the five days were: 370, 374, 362, 364, and 380. The male hamster was: 338, 351, 358, 357, and 360. The average BPM during the injection period for the female hamster was 353, 342, 350, 358, and 385. The male hamster was: 325, 331, 340, 346, and 352. The average BPM for the female during the post-recovery/injection stage was: 331, 352, 336, 349, and 341. The male was: 331, 336, 335, 352, and 325.
Conclusion: Normally, the study of SSRIs focuses on behavioral and social effects, such as anxiety and depression. However, these data suggests that serotonin is a key player in the VTA/IF system, usually known for its role in reward, drug addiction, learning, and memory through the mediation of dopamine, and our findings indicate that serotonin in this brain region may also be a key player in regulating cardiovascular effects. By using both systems biology approach in the cardiovascular setting and a reductionist biology approach in the neuroscience setting, this gives us the chance to hyperfocus on how serotonin acts in a discrete brain region to modulate complex interactions and each aspect simultaneously.
Recommended Citation
Hinojosa, Ariana V.; Alaniz, Esperanza I.; Lopez-Garcia, Esmeralda; Padilla, Giselle; Dominquez, Fernando; and Gil, Mario, "Exploring the Effects of Serotonin and SSRIs on the Neurological, Behavioral, and Cardiovascular Systems Under Induced Stress –Using the Animal Model of the Syrian Hamster" (2025). Research Symposium. 23.
https://scholarworks.utrgv.edu/somrs/2025/posters/23
Included in
Animal Experimentation and Research Commons, Behavioral Neurobiology Commons, Cardiovascular System Commons, Hormones, Hormone Substitutes, and Hormone Antagonists Commons, Molecular and Cellular Neuroscience Commons, Psychology Commons, Translational Medical Research Commons
Exploring the Effects of Serotonin and SSRIs on the Neurological, Behavioral, and Cardiovascular Systems Under Induced Stress –Using the Animal Model of the Syrian Hamster
Background: Serotonin is a neurotransmitter that has been found to have a wide range of effects on not just the neuropsychological processes but has also been found to exert effects outside the central nervous system (CNS); regulating numerous biological processes, such as metabolism, gastrointestinal system, reproductive function, and even the cardiovascular system. However, there is still a limited understanding of how serotonin affects all these systems due to its complexity and ability to regulate homeostasis. This project aims to create a stronger foundation of knowledge about serotonin and its influence on the interaction between the CNS, behavior, and cardiac function by using a Syrian hamster animal model.
Methods: In this study, the Syrian hamster (Mesocricetus auratus) was used as an animal model and cannulated through stereotaxic surgery to test the hypothesis that increased levels of serotonin induced via a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) (Fluoxetine) administered into the brain modulate cardiovascular function in the hamster. One adult male and one adult female were anesthetized with isoflurane, and cardiovascular data were recorded using the INDUS Rodent Surgical Monitor. Baseline cardiovascular measures were taken before administering 200 nl of fluoxetine at a concentration of 1 nM into the Interfascicular Nucleus (IF)/Ventral Tegmental Area (VTA), a brain region important for reward processing and social interactions. After the microinjection, each animal was recorded for ten minutes and soon after given an hour recovery time to allow the medication to spread and give the animals time off the anesthetic. After the one-hour mark, animals were once again anesthetized and recorded for the next 30 minutes. This occurred over five days, one round of testing each day. ECG recordings consisted of beats per minute, breath rates per minute, and core temperature taken every 30 seconds.
Results: Both hamsters showed a general trend of a decreasing heart rate after the drug administration. For the female hamster the baseline average BPM for the five days were: 370, 374, 362, 364, and 380. The male hamster was: 338, 351, 358, 357, and 360. The average BPM during the injection period for the female hamster was 353, 342, 350, 358, and 385. The male hamster was: 325, 331, 340, 346, and 352. The average BPM for the female during the post-recovery/injection stage was: 331, 352, 336, 349, and 341. The male was: 331, 336, 335, 352, and 325.
Conclusion: Normally, the study of SSRIs focuses on behavioral and social effects, such as anxiety and depression. However, these data suggests that serotonin is a key player in the VTA/IF system, usually known for its role in reward, drug addiction, learning, and memory through the mediation of dopamine, and our findings indicate that serotonin in this brain region may also be a key player in regulating cardiovascular effects. By using both systems biology approach in the cardiovascular setting and a reductionist biology approach in the neuroscience setting, this gives us the chance to hyperfocus on how serotonin acts in a discrete brain region to modulate complex interactions and each aspect simultaneously.
