title: Involvement of serotonin in the central regulation of blood pressure: evidence for a facilitating effect on sympathetic nerve activity.
abstract: The effects of serotonin (5-HT) receptor agonists and antagonists on sympathetic nervous discharge (SND) recorded from the external carotid and splanchnic nerves were studied in baroreceptor-denervated cats. Intravenous administration of the 5-HT antagonists methysergide (0.025-1.6 mg/kg), metergoline (0.01-0.32 mg/kg), cyproheptadine (0.05-1.6 mg/kg) and cinanserin (0.2-6.4 mg/Kg) was associated with a prolonged dose-related inhibition of SND. Maximum reductions in SND produced by methysergide, metergoline, cyproheptadine and cinanserin were 90, 72, 71 and 50%, respectively. In contrast, a progressive increase in SND was observed in vehicle control animals. Methysergide, metergoline and cyproheptadine failed to reduce SND in cats pretreated with the 5-HT synthesis inhibitor p-chlorophenylalanine. Clonidine (20 micrograms/kg i.v.) significantly inhibited SND (-73%) in p-chlorophenylalanine-treated cats. The selective 5-HT agonists 5-methoxydimethyltryptamine and lisuride also reduced SND in a dose-dependent manner. The time course of the depressor effects of 5-methoxydimethyltryptamine and lisuride correlate well to their ability to inhibit 5-HT cell firing. These data indicate that 5-HT agonists which act presynaptically to inhibit 5-HT cell firing and antagonists which act postsynaptically to block the effect of synaptically released 5-HT both mediate a central reduction in SND. It is concluded that central 5-HT neurons facilitate transmission in central sympathetic pathways.
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001794:Blood Pressure; D002415:Cats; D003714:Denervation; D010134:Fenclonine / Q000494:pharmacology; D006897:Hydroxyindoleacetic Acid / Q000378:metabolism; D008711:Metergoline / Q000494:pharmacology; D010883:Piperoxan / Q000494:pharmacology; D011311:Pressoreceptors / Q000187:drug effects; D012701:Serotonin / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D013564:Sympathetic Nervous System / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D008711:Metergoline; D012701:Serotonin; D006897:Hydroxyindoleacetic Acid; D010883:Piperoxan; D010134:Fenclonine