title: [Serotonin and blood pressure regulation--antihypertensive mechanism of ketanserin].
abstract: The role of serotonin (5-HT) in blood pressure (BP) regulation was reviewed. Central and peripheral 5-HT receptors can be divided into three receptor subtypes: 5-HT1 (5-HT1A, 5-HT1B, 5-HT1C), 5-HT2 and 5-HT3 receptors. The selective agonists and antagonists of these receptor subtypes are useful for investigating the BP regulation by 5-HT. The central 5-HT1A receptor agonist 8-hydroxy-2-(di-n-propylamino) tetralin (8-OH-DPAT) produced hypotension and decreases in sympathetic nerve activity (SNA). This suggests that central 5-HT may cause decreases in both BP and SNA via 5-HT1A receptors. Since the 5-HT2 receptor antagonist ketanserin, which has an antihypertensive effect, decreased SNA and the 5-HT2 agonist 1-(2,5-dimethoxy-4-iodophenyl)-2-aminopropane (DOI) increased SNA, central 5-HT2 receptors may be connected with the 5-HT-induced increases in both BP and SNA. On the other hand, ketanserin's antihypertensive effects via its 5-HT2 receptor blocking action in the vascular system indicates that peripheral 5-HT may contribute to the initiation or the maintenance of elevated vascular resistance in several forms of hypertension including essential hypertension. However, ketanserin also possesses alpha 1-adrenoceptor blocking action, and its precise antihypertensive mechanism has not been established. Further study of the antihypertensive mechanism of ketanserin will help clarify the precise role of 5-HT in BP regulation.
authors.affiliation: First Department of Pharmacology, Hokkaido University School of Medicine, Sapporo, Japan.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Matsumoto
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Togashi
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Yoshioka
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Saito
mesh_terms: D000317:Adrenergic alpha-Antagonists; D000818:Animals; D000959:Antihypertensive Agents; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000187:drug effects*; D004285:Dogs; D006801:Humans; D007650:Ketanserin / Q000494:pharmacology*; D011985:Receptors, Serotonin / Q000502:physiology*; D012701:Serotonin / Q000502:physiology*; D013565:Sympatholytics; D014665:Vasodilator Agents
chemical_list: D000317:Adrenergic alpha-Antagonists; D000959:Antihypertensive Agents; D011985:Receptors, Serotonin; D013565:Sympatholytics; D014665:Vasodilator Agents; D012701:Serotonin; D007650:Ketanserin