Age-associated changes in the serotonergic system in rat superior colliculus and pretectum

The purpose of this study was to investigate whether aging alters serotonergic innervation of the superior colliculus and pretectum in rats. The superior colliculus has one of the highest concentrations of serotonin in the rat central nervous system. Young and old male F344 rats (<6 months, and >18 months, albino and pigmented) were used in all experiments. Coronal sections through the superior colliculus and pretectum were incubated with antibodies to serotonin, the serotonin 2A receptor, and the serotonin transporter. Immunocytochemical staining was analyzed semi-quantitatively. The results indicate that with age there is an increase in serotonin immunoreactivity throughout the entire superior colliculus and pretectum, a decrease in levels of serotonin 2A receptor staining in select layers of superior colliculus, and no change in serotonin transporter immunoreactivity. Albino rats differ from pigmented rats in that they have enhanced serotonergic immunoreactivity in the superficial layers of superior colliculus, a region that receives direct retinal input. These data suggest that the age-related changes in the serotonergic system in the superior colliculus and pretectum may account for some of the alterations in light-mediated behaviors with aging.