Journal article
Serotonin neurons are necessary for tonic sodium intake inhibition
American journal of physiology. Regulatory, integrative and comparative physiology, Vol.329(2), pp.R258-R271
08/01/2025
DOI: 10.1152/ajpregu.00029.2025
PMCID: PMC12311553
PMID: 40560571
Abstract
Sodium appetite is a motivated behavior that occurs in response to sodium deprivation. Various neurotransmitters, including serotonin, are thought to regulate sodium intake. In the present study, we used genetic deletion to test whether serotonergic neurons are necessary for regulating sodium appetite. First, we confirmed that
-Cre;
(
) mice have nearly complete deletion of serotonergic neurons, with only sporadic cells remaining. Next, we measured baseline intake of water and 3% NaCl and found that
mice consume more salt than Cre-negative littermate-control mice (
). Finally, we tested the necessity of serotonergic neurons for thirst and sodium appetite inhibition. After 24-hour water deprivation, mice lacking serotonergic neurons exhibited an intact thirst response by increasing water intake just like Cre-negative littermates. After furosemide diuresis followed by 24-hour sodium deprivation mice lacking serotonergic neurons exhibited an intact sodium appetite response by increasing salt and water intake like Cre-negative littermates. Interestingly, the baseline, daily salt intake of
mice increased between tests relative to their initial baseline. Together, these findings indicate that while serotonergic neurons are not the primary mechanism controlling sodium appetite, they act as a 'brake' limiting sodium consumption. This tonic inhibitory role may protect against excess sodium intake and suggests the possibility that serotonergic medications may influence dietary sodium consumption.
Details
- Title: Subtitle
- Serotonin neurons are necessary for tonic sodium intake inhibition
- Creators
- Silvia Gasparini - University of IowaGordon F Buchanan - University of IowaJoel C Geerling - University of Iowa
- Resource Type
- Journal article
- Publication Details
- American journal of physiology. Regulatory, integrative and comparative physiology, Vol.329(2), pp.R258-R271
- DOI
- 10.1152/ajpregu.00029.2025
- PMID
- 40560571
- PMCID
- PMC12311553
- NLM abbreviation
- Am J Physiol Regul Integr Comp Physiol
- ISSN
- 1522-1490
- eISSN
- 1522-1490
- Publisher
- AMER PHYSIOLOGICAL SOC
- Grant note
- NS099425 / HHS | NIH | National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS) Department of Neurology laboratory startup funds / University of Iowa (UI) Iowa Neuroscience Institute Early-stage Research Program of Excellence award / Roy J. Carver Charitable Trust (RJCCT) Aging Mind and Brain Initiative (AMBI) / University of Iowa (UI) NS130038 / HHS | NIH | National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS)
- Language
- English
- Electronic publication date
- 06/25/2025
- Date published
- 08/01/2025
- Academic Unit
- Neurology; Iowa Neuroscience Institute
- Record Identifier
- 9984833635502771
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