title: The actions of 5-hydroxytryptamine in the rabbit ciliary ganglion.
abstract: Intracellular recordings were made from ciliary ganglion neurones of the rabbit in vitro. 5-Hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) produced a rapid depolarization in 67% of the neurones examined. The 5-HT-induced depolarization persisted in solutions containing zero (1-100 microM), or on the amplitude and the duration of the current used for ionophoresis. The 5-HT-induced depolarization was associated with a marked fall of input resistance and reversed in polarity at about -10 mV. The 5-HT-induced response was reversibly abolished in sodium-free solution. A marked desensitization to this action of 5-HT was observed. After the 5-HT depolarization passed off due to desensitization, 5-HT (1 microM-1 mM) reversibly depressed the amplitude of cholinergic excitatory postsynaptic potentials (EPSPs) in 91% of the neurones tested in a dose-dependent manner, whereas 5-HT did not detectably affect the depolarization induced by ionophoresis of acetylcholine (ACh). The frequency of spontaneous miniature EPSPs (in 20 mM potassium solution) was decreased by 5-HT (30-100 microM). These results demonstrate that 5-HT exerts two separate actions in the rabbit parasympathetic ciliary ganglion. One is a depolarization of ganglion cells due to an increase in membrane permeability to sodium and presumably potassium ions; the other is a depression of ACh release from presynaptic fibres. Further pharmacological characteristics of these actions of 5-HT were investigated and discussed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Autonomic Physiology, Tokyo Medical and Dental University, Japan.
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Tatsumi
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Katayama
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D005260:Female; D005726:Ganglia, Parasympathetic / Q000187:drug effects*; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D008297:Male; D008564:Membrane Potentials / Q000187:drug effects; D011817:Rabbits; D012701:Serotonin / Q000494:pharmacology*; D009435:Synaptic Transmission / Q000187:drug effects*
chemical_list: D012701:Serotonin