title: Identification of 5-hydroxytryptamine receptors positively coupled to adenylyl cyclase in rat cultured astrocytes.
abstract: 1. 5-Hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) elicited a dose-dependent stimulation of intracellular adenosine 3': 5'-cyclic monophosphate (cyclic AMP) accumulation in cultured astrocytes derived from neonatal rat (Sprague Dawley) thalamic/hypothalamic area with a potency (pEC50) of 6.68 +/- 0.08 (mean +/- s.e. mean). 2. In order to characterize the 5-HT receptor responsible for the cyclic AMP accumulation the effects of a variety of compounds were investigated on basal cyclic AMP levels (agonists) and 5-carboxamidotryptamine (5-CT) stimulated cyclic AMP levels (antagonists). The rank order of potency for the agonists investigated was 5-CT (pEC50 = 7.81 +/- 0.09) > 5-methoxytryptamine (5-MeOT) (pEC50 = 6.86 +/- 0.36) > 5-HT (pEC50 = 6.68 +/- 0.08). The following compounds, at concentrations up to 10 microM, did not affect basal cyclic AMP levels 8-hydroxy-2-(di-n-propylamino)tetralin (8-OH-DPAT), cisapride, sumatriptan, DOI and RU 24969. The rank order of potency of antagonists was methiothepin (pKi = 7.98 +/- 0.25) > mesulergine (pKi = 7.58 +/- 0.18) > ritanserin (pKi = 7.20 +/- 0.24) > clozapine (pKi = 7.03 +/- 0.19) > mianserin (pKi = 6.41 +/- 0.19). The following compounds, at concentrations up to 10 microM, were inactive: ketanserin, WAY100635, GR127935. This pharmacological profile is consistent with that of 5-HT7 receptor subtype-mediated effects. 3. The cultured astrocytes exhibited regional heterogeneity in the magnitude of cyclic AMP accumulation (Emax). Cells cultured from the thalamic/hypothalamic area had significantly higher Emax values (588 +/- 75% and 572 +/- 63% of basal levels for 5-CT and 5-HT, respectively) compared to brainstem (274 +/- 51% and 318 +/- 46%, respectively) and colliculus astrocytes (244 +/- 15% and 301 +/- 24%, respectively). No significant differences in pEC50 (for either 5-HT or 5-CT) values were observed. 4. Reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) with primers specific for the 5-HT7 receptor confirmed expression of messenger RNA for this receptor subtype by the cultured astrocytes derived from all regions investigated. Primers specific for the 5-HT6 receptor also amplified a cDNA fragment from the same samples. 5. From these findings, we conclude that astrocytes cultured from a number of brain regions express functional 5-HT receptors positively coupled to adenylyl cyclase and that the level of receptor expression or the efficiency of receptor coupling is regionally-dependent. The pharmacological profile of the receptor on thalamic/hypothalamic astrocytes suggests that the 5-HT7 receptor is the dominant receptor that is functionally expressed even though astrocyte cultures have the capacity to express both 5-HT6 and 5-HT7 receptor messenger RNA.
authors.affiliation: Biochemistry Department, Imperial College, London.
authors.forename: W D
authors.initials: WD
authors.lastname: Hirst
authors.forename: G W
authors.initials: GW
authors.lastname: Price
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Rattray
authors.forename: G P
authors.initials: GP
authors.lastname: Wilkin
mesh_terms: D000262:Adenylyl Cyclases / Q000378:metabolism*; D000818:Animals; D001253:Astrocytes / Q000201:enzymology / Q000378:metabolism*; D001921:Brain / Q000166:cytology* / Q000201:enzymology; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D000242:Cyclic AMP / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D007031:Hypothalamus / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects / Q000201:enzymology; D008297:Male; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012313:RNA / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000302:isolation & purification; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D011985:Receptors, Serotonin / Q000378:metabolism*; D012701:Serotonin / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000494:pharmacology; D012702:Serotonin Antagonists / Q000494:pharmacology; D017366:Serotonin Receptor Agonists / Q000494:pharmacology; D013788:Thalamus / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects / Q000201:enzymology
chemical_list: D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins; D011985:Receptors, Serotonin; D012702:Serotonin Antagonists; D017366:Serotonin Receptor Agonists; D012701:Serotonin; D012313:RNA; C047087:5-carboxamidotryptamine; D000242:Cyclic AMP; D000262:Adenylyl Cyclases