title: Origin of 5-hydroxytryptamine-induced hyperpolarization of the rat superior cervical ganglion and vagus nerve.
abstract: 1 5-Hydroxytryptamine (5-HT)-induced membrane potential changes were recorded extracellularly from rat superior cervical ganglia (SCG) and cervical vagus nerves in vitro. 2 On the SCG, low concentrations of 5-HT (1 X 10(-8)-3 X 10(-7) M) induced concentration-related hyperpolarization responses. Higher concentrations of 5-HT (1 X 10(-6) 1 X 10(-4) M) induced complex responses which typically consisted of an initial hyperpolarization, followed by a depolarization and subsequent after-hyperpolarization. The depolarization, but not the initial hyperpolarization, was blocked by metoclopramide (3 X 10(-5) M), quipazine (1 X 10(-6) M) or MDL 72222 (1 X 10(-5) M). 3 5-HT-induced hyperpolarization of the SCG was potentiated when the amount of calcium chloride added to the superfusion medium was reduced from 2.5 to 0.15 mmol l-1. Hyperpolarization responses recorded from SCG preparations superfused with this low-calcium medium were unaffected by the substitution of lithium chloride for sodium chloride and were potentiated by the omission of potassium ions. Ouabain (1 X 10(-3) M) abolished both the hyperpolarization and the depolarization induced by 5-HT. 4 On the vagus nerve, 5-HT (1 X 10(-7) - 3 X 10(-5)M) did not induce initial hyperpolarization in either normal or low-calcium Krebs-Henseleit medium. However, in the latter solution only, depolarization responses induced by 5-HT at concentrations of 1 X 10(-6)M or greater were followed by hyperpolarization. Both the depolarization and the post-5-HT hyperpolarization were blocked by metoclopramide (3 X 10(-5)M) but were unaffected by spiperone (1 X 10(-7)M). 5 On the vagus nerve, post-5-HT hyperpolarization responses were selectively and reversibly inhibited by ouabain, and by superfusion with Krebs-Henseleit medium that was either potassium-free or contained lithium chloride in place of sodium chloride. 7 These results demonstrate the generation in the rat SCG of a 5-HT-induced hyperpolarization response that is not mediated through 5-HT3 receptors and is unlikely to be a consequence of depolarization. In contrast, on the rat vagus nerve, the post-5-HT hyperpolarization observed in the present study had the characteristics expected of depolarization-dependent activation of a sodium ion pump.
authors: Department of Neuropharmacology, Glaxo Group Research Ltd., Ware, Hertfordshire.
authors: S J
authors: SJ
authors: Ireland
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002118:Calcium / Q000378:metabolism; D004558:Electric Stimulation; D005727:Ganglia, Spinal / Q000187:drug effects*; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D008094:Lithium / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D008564:Membrane Potentials / Q000187:drug effects; D010042:Ouabain / Q000494:pharmacology; D011188:Potassium / Q000502:physiology; D051381:Rats; D012701:Serotonin / Q000494:pharmacology*; D014630:Vagus Nerve / Q000187:drug effects*
chemical_list: D012701:Serotonin; D010042:Ouabain; D008094:Lithium; D011188:Potassium; D002118:Calcium