Serotonergic and noradrenergic receptors in the rat brain: modulation by chronic exposure to ovarian hormones

Noradrenergic (alpha 1 and beta) and serotonergic (5HT1 and 5HT2) receptors were assayed in the brains of ovariectomized female rats treated for 2 weeks with estrogen, progesterone or a combination of both hormones. Estrogen treatment resulted in a decrease in the number of 5HT1 and beta adrenergic receptors, with a concomitant increase in 5HT2 receptors. Progesterone alone caused a smaller increase in 5HT2 receptors, a similar decrease in 5HT1 and had no significant effect on noradrenergic receptors. When given with estrogen, progesterone blocked the estrogen effect on 5HT2 receptors but did not inhibit the estrogen-mediated decrease in 5HT1 and beta adrenergic receptors. alpha 1 adrenergic receptors were not affected by any of the hormone treatment paradigms. beta adrenergic and 5HT2 receptors are often implicated in antidepressant action, and the modulation of these two receptor types by ovarian hormones might be relevant to hormone-linked affective changes such as premenstrual tension and post-partum depression.