Autoradiographic characterization of [(3)H]-5-HT-moduline binding sites in rodent brain and their relationship to 5-HT(1B) receptors

5-HT-moduline is an endogenous tetrapeptide [Leu-Ser-Ala-Leu (LSAL)] that was first isolated from bovine brain tissue. To understand the physiological role of this tetrapeptide, we studied the localization of 5-HT-moduline binding sites in rat and mouse brains. Quantitative data obtained with a gaseous detector of β-particles (β-imager) indicated that [(3)H]-5-HT-moduline bound specifically to rat brain sections with high affinity (K(d) = 0.77 nM and B(max) = 0.26 dpm/mm(2)). Using film autoradiography in parallel, we found that 5-HT-moduline binding sites were expressed in a variety of rat and mouse brain structures. In 5-HT(1B) receptor knock-out mice, the specific binding of [(3)H]-5-HT-moduline was not different from background labeling, indicating that 5-HT-moduline targets are exclusively located on the 5-HT(1B) receptors. Although the distribution of 5-HT-moduline binding sites was similar to that of 5-HT(1B) receptors, they did not overlap totally. Differences in distribution patterns were found in regions containing either high levels of 5-HT(1B) receptors such as globus pallidus and subiculum that were poorly labeled or in other regions such as dentate gyrus of hippocampus and cortex where the relative density of 5-HT-moduline binding sites was higher than that of 5-HT(1B) receptors. In conclusion, our data, based on autoradiographic localization, indicate that 5-HT-moduline targets are located on 5-HT(1B) receptors present both on 5-HT afferents and postsynaptic neurons. By interacting specifically with 5-HT(1B) receptors, this tetrapeptide may play a pivotal role in pathological states such as stress that involves the dysfunction of 5-HT neurotransmission.