Home General Physiology and Biophysics 2025 General Physiology and Biophysics Vol.44, No.3, p, 253–257, 2025

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Founded: 1982
ISSN 1338-4325 (online)
ISSN 0231-5882 (print)
Published in English,
6 times per year

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General Physiology and Biophysics Vol.44, No.3, p, 253–257, 2025

Title: Bombesin stimulates dorsal raphe nucleus serotonergic neurons via a mechanism involving BB1 receptors
Author: Eliyahu Dremencov, Daniil Grinchii, Xia Zhang, Zul Merali
Abstract: The involvement of serotonin (5-HT) in mood and appetite regulation is well established. This neurotransmitter is released from the neurons located in brainstem raphe nuclei. The excitability of the raphe 5-HT neurons, determining 5-HT neurotransmission, is regulated by various biomolecules, among them gastroenteric hormones, such as gastrin-releasing peptide (GRP). We aimed to examine the effects of the GRP homolog bombesin, and antagonist of bombesin BB1 receptor PD 176252, on the excitability of 5-HT neurons in in vivo conditions. In order to achieve its permeability through the blood-brain barrier, bombesin was fused to the cell-membrane transduction domain of the human immunodeficiency virus-type-1 Tat protein. We found that Tat-bombesin complex increased the firing activity of 5-HT neurons; PD 176252 had an opposite effect. GRP might thus regulate 5-HT neurotransmission via a mechanism involving BB1 receptors. BB1 ligands may therefore be used for the treatment of mood and eating disorders.

Keywords: Dorsal raphe nucleus (DRN) — Electrophysiology in vivo — Gastrin-releasing peptide (GRP) — Neuromedin B receptor (BB1) — Serotonin (5-HT)
Year: 2025, Volume: 44, Issue: 3 Page From: 253, Page To: 257
doi:10.4149/gpb_2025007


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