A study by researchers at MIT’s Picower Institute for Learning and Memory has uncovered the distinct roles of six serotonin receptors in the nematode worm C. elegans, which may have implications for psychiatric drug development. By creating 64 mutant strains of the worm—with various combinations of missing receptors—the team identified that three receptors primarily drive serotonin-induced behavioral slowing, while the other three modulate these functions. Additionally, different receptors were found to respond to varying patterns of serotonin release.
The researchers developed advanced imaging techniques to map how serotonin affects neural activity across the entire brain of C. elegans. Through fluorescent tagging and brain-wide calcium imaging, they observed that approximately half of the worm’s neurons express serotonin receptors, with various combinations present in some neurons. The findings demonstrate how targeted serotonin receptor interactions can alter neural circuit activity.
Steve Flavell, the study’s senior author, emphasized the complexity of the serotonergic system and how understanding these interactions could provide a foundation for developing better psychiatric drugs. Overall, the research presents a thorough examination of serotonin’s effects from a molecular level to brain-wide circuitry, showcasing its relevance for mental health treatments.
