Posted by SLS on December 1, 2003, at 8:59:37
In reply to Re: Buspar, posted by linkadge on November 30, 2003, at 18:29:03
> That is true, it is both a post synaptic and presynaptic agonist. So by activating the post synaptic receptors it has antidepressant activity, but by activating the presynaptic receptors it decreases overall serotogenic function. Presumably, is anxiolitic profile is a result of decreased activity at the 5ht2a receptor (acivation of this receptor is presumably why SSRI's can cause anxiety).
I did a quick search regarding the function of 5-HT1a receptors and found nothing that indicates they are excitatory upon serotonergic neurons. Maybe you can find something definitive identifying these receptors as promoting rather than inhibiting the firing of 5-HT neurons and pathways. I'll try to research it more after I ingest some caffeine. There are three areas of concentration of 5-HT1a receptors on the cell membranes of serotoninergic neurons: 1) prejunctional (terminals); 2)somatodendritic (cell body); 3) postjuntional (postsynaptic). 5-HT1a receptors at all of these locations act as inhibitory autoreceptors. At postsynaptic sites, they serve to hyperpolarize the neuron and inhibits its firing via the opening of K+ channels.
- Scott
poster:SLS
thread:285253
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20031126/msgs/285473.html