Modulation of serotonin dynamics in the dorsal raphe nucleus via high frequency medial prefrontal cortex stimulation

•Direct optical stimulation of DR in transgenic mice used to identify 5-HT cells•mPFC-HFS does not selectively inhibit 5-HT neurons in the DR.•FSCV used to monitor 5-HT release and reuptake dynamics in the DR•5-HT clearance faster following 5 min mPFC-HFS when compared to control levels

The subcallosal cingulate (SCC) region, or its rodent homologue the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC), and midbrain dorsal raphe (DR) are crucial nodes of the widespread network implicated in emotional regulation. Stimulation of the SCC is being explored as a potential treatment for depression. Because modulation of the 5-HT system is the most common pharmacological means of treating depression, we sought to establish 5-HT's role in the mPFC-DR projection. Using anaesthetized mice, we recorded neuronal activity in 49 neurons of the DR before, during, and after high frequency stimulation (HFS) of the mPFC. The majority of DR cells (74%) significantly decreased firing rate during HFS (p < 0.001, 65.7 ± 9.4% of baseline, 14 mice). To see the effect of mPFC-HFS on 5-HT neurons, we used transgenic mice with expression of the channelrhodopsin fusion protein directed to the 5-HT neuronal population. Neurons were categorized as 5-HT based on their excitatory response to blue light stimulation (p < 0.05, n = 11). Our main finding was that identified 5-HT neurons in the DR were clearly inhibited by HFS, albeit non-selectively. Lastly, we used fast scan cyclic voltammetry (FSCV) to investigate the effects of mPFC-HFS on the release and reuptake of electrically stimulated 5-HT in the DR of C57BL/6 J mice. Serotonin clearance was significantly faster following 5 min HFS (2.3 ± 1.0 s, n = 5, p < 0.05) when compared to control levels (3.7 ± 1.0 s, n = 5), indicating less release or more efficient 5-HT reuptake. Taken together, these findings imply that mPFC stimulation alters 5-HT activity dynamics in the DR. Such altered 5-HT dynamics may modulate the potential therapeutic mechanisms of SCC/mPFC stimulation.