Effects of interferon-γ, interleukin-1β, and tumor necrosis factor-α on the serotonin metabolism in the nucleus raphe dorsalis of the rat

The effects of the cytokines interferon (IFN)-gamma, interleukin (IL)-1, and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha on the serotoninergic transmission in the nucleus raphe dorsalis (NRD) were studied after peripheral and central application. The studies were performed in the freely moving rat using differential pulse voltammetry with multicarbon fibre electrodes to study the extracellular levels of the serotonin (5-HT) metabolite 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid (5-HIAA). The extracellular 5-HIAA levels were not changed in the NRD after peripheral application of rat recombinant IFN-gamma, but elevated by the cytokines IL-1 beta and TNF-alpha. After intracerebroventricular (i.c.v.) application the cytokines IFN-gamma, IL-1 beta and TNF-alpha stimulated the serotoninergic transmission in the NRD. Our data suggest that the effect of peripherally elevated cytokine concentrations on the serotonin metabolism in the NRD of the rat is cytokine-dependent. In this respect the T-cell and NK-cell cytokine IFN-gamma acts clearly different when compared to the mainly macrophage-derived cytokines IL-1 beta and TNF-alpha, and plays a different role in the communication between immune and central nervous system.