title: Stimulation of corticosterone and beta-endorphin secretion in the rat by selective 5-HT receptor subtype activation.
abstract: Changes in plasma concentrations of corticosterone and beta-endorphin (beta-END) were determined in male rats after treatment with the selective 5-HT1A agonist 8-hydroxy-2-(di-n-propylamino)tetralin (8-OH-DPAT) or the non-selective 5-HT agonist 6-chloro-2-(1-piperazinyl)pyrazine (MK-212). The administration of either 8-OH-DPAT or MK-212 increased plasma concentrations of both corticosterone and beta-END in a dose-related manner. The corticosterone and beta-END responses to 8-OH-DPAT were antagonized by spiperone and (-)-pindolol, both of which have been shown to have high affinity for the 5-HT1A binding site. In contrast, antagonist which are selective for the 5-HT2 receptor or non-selective 5-HT antagonists were without effect on the hormone responses to 8-OH-DPAT. The MK-212-induced increase in plasma concentrations of corticosterone and beta-END were not affected by treatment with the 5-HT1A antagonists spiperone and (-)-pindolol. However, the corticosterone and beta-END responses to MK-212 were attenuated by the selective 5-HT2 antagonists ketanserin, ritanserin and altanserin, as well as by the non-selective 5-HT antagonist metergoline. It is concluded that stimulation of either 5-HT1A or 5-HT2 receptors results in an activation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis in the rat.
mesh_terms: D017371:8-Hydroxy-2-(di-n-propylamino)tetralin; D000818:Animals; D003345:Corticosterone / Q000378:metabolism*; D004723:Endorphins / Q000378:metabolism*; D007650:Ketanserin / Q000494:pharmacology; D008297:Male; D010869:Pindolol / Q000494:pharmacology; D011719:Pyrazines / Q000494:pharmacology; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains; D011985:Receptors, Serotonin / Q000187:drug effects*; D012702:Serotonin Antagonists / Q000494:pharmacology; D013134:Spiperone / Q000494:pharmacology; D013764:Tetrahydronaphthalenes / Q000494:pharmacology; D001615:beta-Endorphin
chemical_list: D004723:Endorphins; D011719:Pyrazines; D011985:Receptors, Serotonin; D012702:Serotonin Antagonists; D013764:Tetrahydronaphthalenes; D013134:Spiperone; D001615:beta-Endorphin; C014896:6-chloro-2-(1-piperazinyl)pyrazine; D017371:8-Hydroxy-2-(di-n-propylamino)tetralin; D007650:Ketanserin; D010869:Pindolol; D003345:Corticosterone