title: Identification of spinal 5-HT1C binding sites in the rat: characterization of [3H]mesulergine binding.
abstract: 5-Hydroxytryptamine1C (5-HT1C) recognition sites were characterized in rat spinal cord using [3H]mesulergine. In competition experiments with different 5-HT receptor agonists and antagonists, the rank order of drug potencies was consistent with drug affinities for the 5-HT1C receptor: mesulergine, mianserin, 5-HT greater than ketanserin, 1-(2,5-dimethoxy-4-iodophenyl)-2-aminopropane greater than 5-methoxy-3-(1,2,3,6-tetrahydro-4-pyridinyl)1H-indole, spiperone greater than 8-hydroxy-2-(di-n-propylamino)tetralin, pindolol. Bmax was 3.7 +/- 0.3 pmol/g and Kd 1.7 +/- 0.1 nM, with sites found in cervical, thoracic and lumbosacral cord. Inclusion of 20 nM spiperone to block potential 5-HT2 sites did not significantly alter drug affinities. There was a high correlation between drug affinities for [3H]mesulergine-labeled 5-HT1C sites in spinal cord and those reported in pig cortex (r = 0.94) and choroid plexus (r = 0.93), but poor correlation with 5-HT2 (high or low affinity states) or other 5-HT sites. Unlike [3H]mesulergine, the specific binding of [3H]5-HT, [3H]mianserin and [3H]ketanserin was low and no saturation studies could be performed with [3H]1-4-bromo-2-5-dimethoxy phenylisopropylamine. Limited competition studies suggest that [3H]5-HT labels 5-HT1C sites, [3H]ketanserin labels spinal 5-HT2 sites and [3H]mianserin labels both sites under the assay conditions studied, but the population of spinal 5-HT2 is small and not well characterized by these [3H]radioligands. In contrast, the population of spinal 5-HT1C receptors is substantial and [3H]mesulergine is the most useful [3H]radioligand for studies of spinal 5-HT1C sites.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, George Washington University, Washington, DC.
authors.forename: M R
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Pranzatelli
authors.forename: J N
authors.initials: JN
authors.lastname: Murthy
authors.forename: R S
authors.initials: RS
authors.lastname: Pluchino
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000978:Antiparkinson Agents / Q000378:metabolism*; D001665:Binding Sites / Q000187:drug effects; D001667:Binding, Competitive; D004873:Ergolines / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains; D011985:Receptors, Serotonin / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D012702:Serotonin Antagonists / Q000494:pharmacology; D013116:Spinal Cord / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D000978:Antiparkinson Agents; D004873:Ergolines; D011985:Receptors, Serotonin; D012702:Serotonin Antagonists; C031649:mesulergine