title: Effect of nerve activity on the in vivo release of [3H]serotonin continuously formed from L-[3H]tryptophan in the caudate nucleus of the cat.
abstract: A new isotopic approach has been developed to study the in vivo release of serotonin (5-HT). 'Encéphale isolé' cats were implanted with a push-pull cannula in the ventrocaudal part of the head of the caudate nucleus to estimate the release of [3H]5-HT continuously synthesized from L-[3H]tryptophan. Both [3H]5-HT and [3H]tryptamine were found in superfusates. Resting steady state in the release of [3H]indoleamines was observed as soon as 20 min after the beginning of the superfusion with L-[3H]tryptophan; the levels of [3H]5-HT in superfusates were 2.5 times those of [3H]tryptamine and about 6 times the blank value. They were markedly enhanced in the presence of fluoxetine (5 x 10(-6)M), a blocker of the 5-HT uptake process. A marked increase in the release of [3H]5-HT was seen during the local depolarization of 5-HT terminals with potassium chloride (60 mM) or batrachotoxin (10(-6)M) or during the stimulation of 5-HT cell bodies in the nucleus raphe dorsalis with L-glutamic acid (5 x 10(-5)M). These treatments did not enhance the efflux of [3H]tryptamine. The potassium-evoked release of [3H]5-HT was reduced by LSD (10(-5)M). LSD added alone in the superfusing fluid was without effect. The batrachotoxin-evoked release of [3H]5-HT was inhibited in the presence of tetrodotoxin (9 x 10(-6)M). The spontaneous release of [3H]5-HT and [3H]tryptamine was markedly reduced in the presence of a calcium-free medium containing cobalt (10 mM). A transient slight reduction in the spontaneous release of [3H]5-HT was observed in the presence of tetrodotoxin (9 x 10(-6)M). The local cooling of 5-HT cell bodies with a cryoelectrode induced a slight reversible decrease in [3H]5-HT release. These last two treatments were without significant effect on [3H]tryptamine efflux in superfusates. These results indicate that the release of [3H]5-HT endogenously formed from [3H]tryptophan is dependent on nerve activity and that this is not the case for [3H]tryptamine. The advantages of the isotopic approach for in vivo studies on the release of 5-HT are discussed.
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001496:Batrachotoxins / Q000494:pharmacology; D002118:Calcium / Q000494:pharmacology; D002415:Cats; D002421:Caudate Nucleus / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D003080:Cold Temperature; D005260:Female; D008238:Lysergic Acid Diethylamide / Q000494:pharmacology; D008297:Male; D009434:Neural Pathways / Q000187:drug effects; D009474:Neurons / Q000187:drug effects; D009489:Neurosecretion / Q000187:drug effects; D011188:Potassium / Q000494:pharmacology; D011903:Raphe Nuclei / Q000187:drug effects; D011985:Receptors, Serotonin / Q000187:drug effects; D012701:Serotonin / Q000378:metabolism*; D013268:Stimulation, Chemical; D009435:Synaptic Transmission / Q000187:drug effects*; D013779:Tetrodotoxin / Q000494:pharmacology; D014363:Tryptamines / Q000378:metabolism; D014364:Tryptophan / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D001496:Batrachotoxins; D011985:Receptors, Serotonin; D014363:Tryptamines; D012701:Serotonin; D013779:Tetrodotoxin; D014364:Tryptophan; D008238:Lysergic Acid Diethylamide; D011188:Potassium; D002118:Calcium