Excitation of rat colonic afferent fibres by 5-HT(3) receptors.
The gastrointestinal tract contains most of the body's 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) and releases large amounts after meals or exposure to toxins. Increased 5-HT release occurs in patients with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and their peak plasma 5-HT levels correlate with pain episodes. 5-HT(3) receptor antagonists reduce symptoms of IBS clinically, but their site of action is unclear and the potential for other therapeutic targets is unexplored. Here we investigated effects of 5-HT on sensory afferents from the colon and the expression of 5-HT(3) receptors on their cell bodies in the dorsal root ganglia (DRG). Distal colon, inferior mesenteric ganglion and the lumbar splanchnic nerve bundle (LSN) were placed in a specialized organ bath. Eighty-six single fibres were recorded from the LSN. Three classes of primary afferents were found: 70 high-threshold serosal afferents, four low-threshold muscular afferents and 12 mucosal afferents. Afferent cell bodies were retrogradely labelled from the distal colon to the lumbar DRG, where they were processed for 5-HT(3) receptor-like immunoreactivity. Fifty-six percent of colonic afferents responded to 5-HT (between 10(-6) and 10(-3) M) and 30 % responded to the selective 5-HT(3) agonist, 2-methyl-5-HT (between 10(-6) and 10(-2) M). Responses to 2-methyl-5-HT were blocked by the 5-HT(3) receptor antagonist alosetron (2 x 10(-7) M), whereas responses to 5-HT were only partly inhibited. Twenty-six percent of L1 DRG cell bodies retrogradely labelled from the colon displayed 5-HT(3) receptor-like immunoreactivity. We conclude that colonic sensory neurones expressing 5-HT(3) receptors also functionally express the receptors at their peripheral endings. Our data reveal actions of 5-HT on colonic afferent endings via both 5-HT(3) and non-5-HT(3) receptors.
Hicks
Gareth A
GA
Glaxo Institute of Applied Pharmacology, Department of Pharmacology, Cambridge CB2 1QJ, UK.
Coldwell
Jonathan R
JR
Schindler
Marcus
M
Ward
Philip A Bland
PA
Jenkins
David
D
Lynn
Penny A
PA
Humphrey
Patrick P A
PP
Blackshaw
L Ashley
LA
D000818:Animals; D003106:Colon / Q000294:innervation*; D005727:Ganglia, Spinal / Q000166:cytology / Q000502:physiology; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D009412:Nerve Fibers / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D009475:Neurons, Afferent / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D011985:Receptors, Serotonin / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D044406:Receptors, Serotonin, 5-HT3; D012701:Serotonin / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000494:pharmacology; D012702:Serotonin Antagonists / Q000494:pharmacology
D011985:Receptors, Serotonin; D044406:Receptors, Serotonin, 5-HT3; D012702:Serotonin Antagonists; D012701:Serotonin; C045918:2-methyl-5-HT