title: Ketanserin modulates rabbit foot cooling in the presence or absence of exogenous serotonin.
abstract: Since hypothermic conditions augment sensitivity to vasoactive amines like serotonin (5-HT) and 5-HT is associated with the etiology of Raynaud's phenomenon, this amine perhaps plays a role in cold-induced vasoconstriction. To determine if 5-HT participated in normal peripheral cooling and if ketanserin (KET), a 5-HT blocker, modulated such cooling, four groups of New Zealand white rabbits (N = 33) were studied. The femoral artery was cannulated to allow perfusion of a hindlimb. Thermistors were implanted in the footpad and rectum. The hindfoot was exposed to a 15 degrees C bath for 30 min, while footpad and rectal temperatures were recorded. During cold exposure, 5-HT (5 x 10(-2) M, group 1), KET (0.1 mg/kg) + 5-HT (group 2), KET (group 3), or saline (group 4) was perfused through the hindlimb. Groups 2 and 3 were also pretreated with KET (0.1 mg/kg perfused over 30 min). The rabbit footpad cooled rapidly when exposed to exogenous 5-HT (group 1). KET treatment in the presence of exogenous 5-HT (group 2) was associated with a significantly (P less than 0.05) reduced cooling rate. KET treatment in the absence of exogenous 5-HT (group 3) was also associated with a significantly (P less than 0.05) elevated limb temperature when compared to controls (group 4). This suggested that endogenous 5-HT participated in limb cooling. Therefore, as noted for Raynaud's disease, 5-HT may also influence peripheral cooling of tissues free of such pathologies.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
authors.affiliation: U.S. Army Research Institute of Environmental Medicine, Natick, Massachusetts 01760.
authors.forename: D A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Dubose
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Lukason
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Mariano
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Harris
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Silver
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001831:Body Temperature; D001833:Body Temperature Regulation / Q000187:drug effects*; D003080:Cold Temperature; D006614:Hindlimb; D007650:Ketanserin / Q000494:pharmacology*; D011817:Rabbits; D012016:Reference Values; D012701:Serotonin / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D012701:Serotonin; D007650:Ketanserin