title: Further evidence on the interaction of muramyl dipeptide with the serotonergic system.
abstract: The mode of interaction between muramyl dipeptide (MDP), a compound with immunopharmacological activities, and 5-hydroxtryptamine (5-HT, serotonin) was studied in isolated nerve-smooth muscle preparations of the carp stomach. Application of exogenous 5-HT evoked direct smooth muscle contractions; electric neurogenic stimulation evoked twitches due to release of 5-HT from nerve endings. Contractions evoked by a high concentration of 5-HT (3-30 microM) were resistant to atropine and potentiated in the presence of MDP. Isamoltan (5-HTID antagonist) decreased the amplitude of contractions, whereas ketanserin (5-HT2 antagonist) and MDL 72,222 (5-HT3 antagonist) had no effect. The addition of low concentrations (0.1-1.5 microM) of 5-HT did not contract the preparation but caused a decrease in the amplitude of neurogenic twitches, which might be due to the presynaptic inhibition of serotonin release. This effect of 5-HT was not changed by isamoltan or ketanserin, but it was largely reduced in the presence of 5-HT3 antagonists tropisetron and MDL 72,222. This inhibitory effect of 5-HT on twitch amplitude was potentiated by MDP. The interaction of MDP with the serotonergic system thus involved not only potentiation of the postsynaptic effect of higher 5-HT concentrations, which might have been mediated via the 5-HT1 subsystem, but also presynaptic inhibition. MDP enhancement of 5-HT's inhibitory effect, mediated via 5-HT3 receptors, might represent a new feature in mutual 5-HT-MDP interactions.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Pharmacology, Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, Prague.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Slánský
authors.forename: O
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Kadlec
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Sevcík
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Masek
mesh_terms: D000119:Acetylmuramyl-Alanyl-Isoglutamine / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000818:Animals; D002347:Carps; D004347:Drug Interactions; D004357:Drug Synergism; D005260:Female; D008297:Male; D009119:Muscle Contraction / Q000187:drug effects; D009130:Muscle, Smooth / Q000187:drug effects; D012701:Serotonin / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000494:pharmacology*; D012702:Serotonin Antagonists / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D012702:Serotonin Antagonists; D012701:Serotonin; D000119:Acetylmuramyl-Alanyl-Isoglutamine