title: Formalin-induced nociceptive behavior and edema: involvement of multiple peripheral 5-hydroxytryptamine receptor subtypes.
abstract: The role of 5-hydroxytryptamine and its receptor subtypes in the development of acute inflammation was investigated using the rat paw formalin test as a model for pain (measured by flinching behavior) and edema formation (measured by plethysmometry). The role of endogenously released 5-hydroxytryptamine was assessed using 5-hydroxytryptamine receptor subtype-selective antagonists co-injected with 2.5% formalin, while the receptor subtypes involved in the inflammatory process were further defined by co-injection of 5-hydroxytryptamine or 5-hydroxytryptamine receptor subtype-selective agonists with 0.5% formalin in anticipation of an augmented response. When co-administered with 2.5% formalin, propranolol, tropisetron or GR113808A, but not ketanserin, effectively blocked nociceptive behavior. In the presence of 0.5% formalin, 5-carboxamidotryptamine, 1-(m-chlorophenyl) biguanide or 5-methoxytryptamine, but not (+/-)-1-4-(4-iodo-2,5-dimethoxyphenyl)-2-aminopropane, augmented the flinching response. These data suggest involvement of 5-hydroxytryptamine1, 5-hydroxytryptamine3 and 5-hydroxytryptamine4 receptors in peripheral nociception. There may be some dissociation of nociception and edema formation, since no single 5-hydroxytryptamine receptor antagonist inhibited edema formation with 2.5% formalin; however, with 0.5% formalin, edema formation was enhanced by co-administration of 5-hydroxytryptamine, 5-carboxamidotryptamine, (+/-)-1-4-(4-iodo-2,5-dimethoxyphenyl)-2-aminopropane or 5-methoxytryptamine, but not 1-(m-chlorophenyl) biguanide. These data suggest involvement of 5-hydroxytryptamine1, 5-hydroxytryptamine2 and possibly 5-hydroxytryptamine4 receptors in edema formation. These results confirm the involvement of 5-hydroxytryptamine1 and 5-hydroxytryptamine3 receptor subtypes in peripheral nociception associated with acute inflammation and further suggest an involvement of the more recently characterized 5-hydroxytryptamine4 receptor in this process. There appears to be a dissociation in 5-hydroxytryptamine receptors involved in peripheral nociception and edema formation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anaesthesiology, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada.
authors.forename: G J
authors.initials: GJ
authors.lastname: Doak
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Sawynok
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004487:Edema / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000503:physiopathology*; D005557:Formaldehyde / Q000633:toxicity*; D007211:Indoles / Q000494:pharmacology; D007249:Inflammation; D007650:Ketanserin / Q000494:pharmacology; D008297:Male; D010146:Pain / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000503:physiopathology*; D011433:Propranolol / Q000494:pharmacology; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D011985:Receptors, Serotonin / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D044406:Receptors, Serotonin, 5-HT3; D044422:Receptors, Serotonin, 5-HT4; D012701:Serotonin / Q000494:pharmacology*; D012702:Serotonin Antagonists / Q000494:pharmacology*; D017366:Serotonin Receptor Agonists / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000077526:Tropisetron
chemical_list: D007211:Indoles; D011985:Receptors, Serotonin; D044406:Receptors, Serotonin, 5-HT3; D012702:Serotonin Antagonists; D017366:Serotonin Receptor Agonists; D044422:Receptors, Serotonin, 5-HT4; D005557:Formaldehyde; D012701:Serotonin; D000077526:Tropisetron; D007650:Ketanserin; D011433:Propranolol