title: Activation of 5-HT2 receptors facilitates depolarization of neocortical neurons by N-methyl-D-aspartate.
abstract: The interaction between serotonin and excitatory amino acid agonists at rat neocortical neurons was investigated using the grease-gap recording method. Depolarization evoked by 50 microM N-methyl-D-aspartate was dose dependently facilitated by serotonin (5-HT) (1 to 100 microM) giving a bell-shaped dose-response curve with maximum enhancement at 30 microM. In contrast, quisqualate and kainate depolarizations were not enhanced. Subnanomolar concentrations of methysergide, ritanserin and spiperone, but not ICS 205-930, attenuated the 5-HT enhancement, compatible with 5-HT2, but not 5-HT1 or 5-HT3 receptor subtype involvement. Enhancement was observed with 5-HT2 receptor agonists, whereas 5-HT1 receptor subtype agonists had either no effect (1B and 1C) or reduced (1A) the N-methyl-D-aspartate depolarization. Scopolamine and prazosin reduced the N-methyl-D-aspartate depolarization and blocked facilitation induced by carbachol and phenylephrine, but not that due to 5-HT. Tetrodotoxin reduced the N-methyl-D-aspartate depolarization, but the facilitation by 5-HT persisted. Activators of protein kinase C (phorbol diacetate and 1-oleoyl-2-acetyl-sn-glycerol) did not mimic the serotonin facilitation. We conclude that serotonin enhances N-methyl-D-aspartate depolarization of rat cortical neurons through activation of 5-HT2 receptors, however the cellular mechanism underlying the facilitation remains to be established.
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Medicine, Memorial University, St. John's Newfoundland, Canada.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Rahman
authors.forename: R S
authors.initials: RS
authors.lastname: Neuman
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001921:Brain / Q000187:drug effects*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004347:Drug Interactions; D008297:Male; D016202:N-Methylaspartate / Q000494:pharmacology*; D009474:Neurons / Q000187:drug effects; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D011985:Receptors, Serotonin / Q000187:drug effects*; D012701:Serotonin / Q000494:pharmacology*; D012702:Serotonin Antagonists / Q000494:pharmacology; D017366:Serotonin Receptor Agonists / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D011985:Receptors, Serotonin; D012702:Serotonin Antagonists; D017366:Serotonin Receptor Agonists; D012701:Serotonin; D016202:N-Methylaspartate