title: Modulation of brainstem 5-HT1C receptors by serotonergic drugs in the rat.
abstract: 1. The sparse population of brainstem 5-hydroxytryptamine1C (5-HT1C) (also called 5-HT2C) receptors has received little attention despite its possible role in the serotonin syndrome and 5-HT-mediated shaking behavior. We characterized [3H]mesulergine binding in rat brainstem and, to determine if brainstem 5-HT1C sites respond to serotonergic manipulations, performed saturation studies of [3H]mesulergine binding in brainstem from rats treated chronically with 11 different 5-HT1C/2 agonists and antagonists. 2. In competition studies in vitro, the rank order of drug potency was most compatible with a 5-HT1C receptor binding site: mianserin, 5-HT, cinanserin, 1-(3-chlorophenyl)piperazine (m-CPP), 1-(2-5-dimethoxy-4-iodophenyl)-2-aminopropane (DOI), MDL 100,907, RU 24969, 5-carboxamidotryptamine (5-CT), 8-OH-DPAT, MDL 72,222. 3. Chronic treatment with the agonists quipazine and trifluoromethylphenylpiperazine (TFMPP) and the antagonists ritanserin and methiothepin significantly down-regulated brainstem 5-HT1C sites, which were 65% of [3H]mesulergine-labeled sites in brainstem. Only metergoline and ritanserin significantly increased pKD. 4. Chronic treatment in vivo with DOI, m-CPP, mianserin, methysergide, spiperone, cyproheptadine, and metergoline had no significant effect on BMAX at the dose studied. 5. These data suggest similarities in the regulation of 5-HT1C and 5-HT2 sites at which both 5-HT1C 2 agonists and antagonists also induce receptor down-regulation. 6. 5-HT1C/2 agonists and antagonists that did not down-regulate brainstem 5-HT1C sites may be more active in vivo at 5-HT2 sites, at 5-HT1C sites in other brain regions, have effects on 5-HT1C receptors not detectable at the recognition site, or differ for pharmacokinetic reasons.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, George Washington University, Washington, D.C.
authors.forename: M R
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Pranzatelli
authors.forename: P T
authors.initials: PT
authors.lastname: Tailor
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001665:Binding Sites; D001933:Brain Stem / Q000378:metabolism*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D015536:Down-Regulation; D008297:Male; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D011985:Receptors, Serotonin / Q000378:metabolism*; D012702:Serotonin Antagonists / Q000494:pharmacology*; D017366:Serotonin Receptor Agonists / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D011985:Receptors, Serotonin; D012702:Serotonin Antagonists; D017366:Serotonin Receptor Agonists