title: Effects of 5-hydroxytryptamine and 5-hydroxytryptophan infusion on the human cough reflex.
abstract: In some species serotonin (5-HT) has been shown to act as a central modulator of the cough reflex. To investigate whether serotonergic mechanisms influence the control of the human cough reflex, we have induced cough responses before and during infusions of 5-HT; its precursor 5-hydroxytryptophan (5-HTP), which, in contrast to 5-HT, crosses the blood-brain barrier; and saline control. At the start of each study day, eight normal male volunteers were challenged with a single inhalation of a solution lacking chloride ions (0.15 M sodium bicarbonate) and a single breath of capsaicin during a sham infusion. After 3 h they received repeat cough challenges during experimental infusions of 5-HT, 5-HTP, or saline control, which were given randomly and single blind. Heart rate, respiratory rate, and blood pressure were measured before, during, and after each infusion. Both 5-HT and 5-HTP reduced cough responses to the chloride-deficient solution (P = 0.035 and P = 0.017, respectively) with respect to saline control, whereas neither infusion reduced responses to capsaicin. 5-HT caused a transient increase in heart rate that was not observed with a similar dose of 5-HTP or saline (P < 0.01). Respiratory rate and blood pressure were not affected by experimental infusions but rose during cough challenge. We conclude that 5-HT exerts an inhibitory influence over the human cough reflex at peripheral and possibly central sites.
authors.affiliation: Department of Thoracic Medicine, National Heart and Lung Institute, London, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: R A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Stone
authors.forename: Y M
authors.initials: YM
authors.lastname: Worsdell
authors.forename: R W
authors.initials: RW
authors.lastname: Fuller
authors.forename: P J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Barnes
mesh_terms: D006916:5-Hydroxytryptophan / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000280:Administration, Inhalation; D000328:Adult; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000187:drug effects; D002211:Capsaicin / Q000494:pharmacology; D003371:Cough / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000503:physiopathology*; D006339:Heart Rate / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012018:Reflex / Q000187:drug effects*; D012119:Respiration / Q000187:drug effects; D012701:Serotonin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D012701:Serotonin; D006916:5-Hydroxytryptophan; D002211:Capsaicin