Effect of acetylsalicylic acid on formalin test and on serotonin system in the rat brain.
1. Acetylsalicylic acid (ASA; 400 mg/kg, i.p.) increased serotonin (5-HT) content in rat brain but did not modify the number or the affinity of 5-HT1A receptors in the pons and the cerebral cortex, whereas the number of cortical 5-HT2 receptors decreased significantly. 2. Pretreatment with parachlorophenylaline (100 mg/kg/day for 4 days) depleted 5-HT brain content but modified neither the serum levels of salicylates nor the 5-HT2 cortical receptor characteristics, and it abolished the antinociceptive effect of ASA, 400 mg/kg, in the first phase of the formalin test. 3. These data support the involvement of the central serotonergic system in the antinociceptive activity of ASA.
Vitale
G
G
Department of Internal Medicine, University of Modena, Italy.
Pini
L A
LA
Ottani
A
A
Sandrini
M
M
D000818:Animals; D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal / Q000097:blood / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001241:Aspirin / Q000097:blood / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001921:Brain / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D002540:Cerebral Cortex / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D010134:Fenclonine / Q000494:pharmacology; D005557:Formaldehyde / Q000633:toxicity; D006614:Hindlimb; D008297:Male; D010147:Pain Measurement; D011149:Pons / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D011985:Receptors, Serotonin / Q000187:drug effects; D044263:Receptors, Serotonin, 5-HT1; D012701:Serotonin / Q000378:metabolism*; D012702:Serotonin Antagonists / Q000494:pharmacology
D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal; D011985:Receptors, Serotonin; D044263:Receptors, Serotonin, 5-HT1; D012702:Serotonin Antagonists; D005557:Formaldehyde; D012701:Serotonin; D001241:Aspirin; D010134:Fenclonine