Comparative localization of two serotonin receptors and sensorin in the central nervous system of Aplysia californica

Aplysia californica is a powerful model for understanding the cellular and molecular mechanisms underlying modulation of neuronal plasticity and learning. In the central nervous system of Aplysia, serotonin is associated with various behaviors. For example, it induces short-, intermediate-, and long-term synaptic changes in sensory neurons during learning and inhibits the afterdischarge of the bag cells that initiate egg-laying behavior. Little is known about the nature and contribution of serotonin receptors involved in the numerous serotonin-mediated physiological responses in Aplysia. Recently, two G(i)-coupled serotonin receptors (5-HTap1 and 5-HTap2) were cloned. We now report that, by using in situ hybridization to express the profile of these receptors, we are able to gain critical insight into their roles in the behavior of Aplysia. We compared their distribution to that of sensorin-A, a peptide specifically found in sensory neurons. We wished to determine their involvement in some simple forms of behavioral modifications. 5-HTap1 and 5-HTap2 mRNAs are expressed in all ganglia of the Aplysia central nervous system. Stronger signal was observed with the 5-HTap2 antisense probe than with the 5-HTap1 antisense probe. Notably, mRNA coding for the receptors was found in several identified neurons, in the bag cells, in characterized serotonergic neurons, and in neurons of the mechanosensory clusters that expressed sensorin. We also observed heterogeneity of receptor expression between R2 and LPl1 and among neurons of a single cluster of sensory neurons. These results suggest that 5-HTap1 and 5-HTap2 receptors may regulate the response to serotonin and/or its release in several neurons.