title: Vagal afferent-mediated inhibition of a nociceptive reflex by i.v. serotonin in the rat. II. Role of 5-HT receptor subtypes.
abstract: In the rat, intravenous (i.v.) serotonin (5-HT) is a noxious stimulus which produces distinct vagal afferent-mediated pseudoaffective responses, a passive avoidance behavior, a vagal afferent-mediated inhibition of the nociceptive tail-flick (TF) reflex and a complex triad of cardiovascular responses. In the present study, we have used a variety of 5-HT receptor antagonists to characterize the receptor subtype(s) in the rat that mediate (1) inhibition of the TF reflex and (2) the cardiovascular responses produced by i.v. 5-HT. 5-HT produced a dose-dependent (3-72 micrograms/kg, i.v.) inhibition of the TF reflex (ED50 = 15.3 +/- 0.7 micrograms/kg). Following administration of the 5-HT2 receptor-selective antagonists ketanserin (50-250 micrograms/kg, i.v.) or xylamidine (10-100 micrograms/kg, i.v.), or the 5-HT3 receptor-selective antagonists ICS 205-930 (50-250 micrograms/kg, i.v.) or MDL 72222 (25-250 micrograms/kg, i.v.), there appeared to be a parallel shift of the 5-HT dose-response curve to the right. Following co-administration of xylamidine (50 micrograms/kg, i.v.) with ICS 205-930 (100 micrograms/kg, i.v.), the 5-HT-induced inhibition of the TF reflex was completely abolished at all doses of 5-HT tested (3-288 micrograms/kg, i.v.). In contrast, administration of the centrally acting 5-HT2 receptor-selective antagonist LY 53857 (10-100 micrograms/kg, i.v.) or the non-specific receptor antagonist methysergide (25-500 micrograms/kg, i.v.) resulted in a dose-dependent, but not parallel shift of the 5-HT dose-response curve to the right. The maximal doses of LY 53857 and methysergide tested (250 micrograms/kg and 500 micrograms/kg, respectively) completely abolished the effects of 5-HT (3-288 micrograms/kg, i.v.). Administration of the alpha 1-adrenoceptor antagonist prazosin (25-100 micrograms/kg, i.v.) failed to alter the 5-HT dose-response curve, indicating that the effects of ketanserin were due to blockage of 5-HT2 receptors rather than alpha 1 receptors. Administration of each of the antagonists also produced marked, but selective effects on components of the complex cardiovascular response to i.v. 5-HT. Each of the 5-HT3 receptor selective antagonists (ICS 205-930 or MDL 72222) produced a dose-dependent attenuation of the Bezold-Jarisch reflex-mediated hypotension and bradycardia, and each of the 5-HT2 receptor selective antagonists (xylamidine, ketanserin or LY 53857) produced a dose-dependent attenuation of the pressor response. The non-specific 5-HT receptor antagonist methysergide produced a dose-dependent attenuation of the 5-HT-induced pressor response.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology, College of Medicine, University of Iowa, Iowa City 52242.
authors.forename: S T
authors.initials: ST
authors.lastname: Meller
authors.forename: S J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Lewis
authors.forename: M J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Brody
authors.forename: G F
authors.initials: GF
authors.lastname: Gebhart
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000187:drug effects; D006339:Heart Rate / Q000187:drug effects; D007275:Injections, Intravenous; D008297:Male; D008784:Methysergide / Q000494:pharmacology; D009433:Neural Inhibition / Q000502:physiology*; D009475:Neurons, Afferent / Q000502:physiology*; D009619:Nociceptors / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D011224:Prazosin / Q000494:pharmacology; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains; D011985:Receptors, Serotonin / Q000502:physiology; D012018:Reflex / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D012701:Serotonin / Q000494:pharmacology*; D012702:Serotonin Antagonists; D014630:Vagus Nerve / Q000166:cytology / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D011985:Receptors, Serotonin; D012702:Serotonin Antagonists; D012701:Serotonin; D011224:Prazosin; D008784:Methysergide