title: Serotonin modulates synaptic transmission in immature rat ventrolateral medulla neurons in vitro.
abstract: Patch-clamp recordings in whole-cell configuration were made from ventrolateral medulla neurons of brainstem slices from 8-12-day-old rats. 5-Hydroxytryptamine (3-30 microM) concentration-dependently suppressed excitatory and inhibitory postsynaptic currents evoked by focal stimulation. An augmentation of inhibitory synaptic currents by 5-hydroxytryptamine was noted in a small number of neurons. 5-Hydroxytryptamine depressed synaptic currents with or without causing a significant change in holding currents and membrane conductances; the inward or outward currents induced by exogenously applied glutamate or GABA/glycine were also not significantly changed by 5-hydroxytryptamine. In paired-pulse paradigms designed to evaluate a presynaptic site of action, 5-hydroxytryptamine suppressed synaptic currents but enhanced the paired-pulse facilitation. 5-Hydroxytryptamine reduced the frequency of miniature excitatory postsynaptic currents without significantly affecting the amplitude. 5-Carboxamidotryptamine, 8-hydroxy-2(di-n-propylamino)tetralin, sumatriptan and N-(3-trifluoromethylphenyl)piperazine which exhibit 5-hydroxytryptamine1 receptor agonist activity, depressed synaptic currents with different potencies, with 5-carboxamidotryptamine being the most potent. The non-selective 5-hydroxytryptamine1 receptor antagonist pindolol attenuated the presynaptic effect of 5-hydroxytryptamine, whereas the 5-hydroxytryptamine1A antagonist pindobind-5-hydroxytryptamine1A and 5-hydroxytryptamine2 receptor antagonist ketanserin were ineffective. Our results indicate that 5-hydroxytryptamine suppressed synaptic transmission in ventrolateral medulla neurons by activating presynaptic 5-hydroxytryptamine1 receptors, probably the 5-hydroxytryptamine1B/5-hydroxytryptamine1D subtype. In addition, 5-hydroxytryptamine augmented inhibitory synaptic currents in a small number of neurons the site and mechanism of this potentiating action are not known.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology, James H. Quillen College of Medicine, East Tennessee State University, Johnson City 37614, USA.
authors.forename: L L
authors.initials: LL
authors.lastname: Hwang
authors.forename: N J
authors.initials: NJ
authors.lastname: Dun
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000831:Animals, Newborn / Q000502:physiology*; D004553:Electric Conductivity; D004558:Electric Stimulation / Q000379:methods; D018698:Glutamic Acid / Q000494:pharmacology; D005998:Glycine / Q000494:pharmacology; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D008526:Medulla Oblongata / Q000166:cytology / Q000502:physiology*; D009433:Neural Inhibition / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D009474:Neurons / Q000502:physiology*; D018408:Patch-Clamp Techniques; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D011985:Receptors, Serotonin / Q000502:physiology; D012701:Serotonin / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000502:physiology*; D012702:Serotonin Antagonists / Q000494:pharmacology; D017366:Serotonin Receptor Agonists / Q000494:pharmacology; D013569:Synapses / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D009435:Synaptic Transmission / Q000502:physiology*; D005680:gamma-Aminobutyric Acid / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D011985:Receptors, Serotonin; D012702:Serotonin Antagonists; D017366:Serotonin Receptor Agonists; D012701:Serotonin; D018698:Glutamic Acid; D005680:gamma-Aminobutyric Acid; D005998:Glycine