title: Lack of sumatriptan-induced aortic contraction or relaxation: 5-HT1B receptor protein detected in endothelium and smooth muscle of vasa vasorum but not aorta.
abstract: Since 5-HT1B receptor mRNA was reported in rat aorta, and 5-HT1B receptor activation has been linked to vascular contraction, we explored sumatriptan-induced contractility and immunohistochemical density of 5-HT1B receptor protein in rat aorta. Sumatriptan (up to 10(-4) M), a 5-HT1B/1D receptor agonist, did not contract the endothelial intact or denuded rat aorta, even in the presence of L-NAME or after induction of modest tone with PGF2 alpha (10(-6) M). Sumatriptan also did not relax aortic preparations precontract with PGF2 alpha (3 x 10(-6) M) or phenylephrine (3 x 10(-7) M). Using a polyclonal antibody directed against the 5-HT1B receptor, minimal 5-HT1B receptor protein was detected in either the endothelium or smooth muscle of the rat aorta. However, dense 5-HT1B receptor protein was found in the vascular smooth muscle of the vasa vasorum supplying the aorta. Thus, the 5-HT1B receptor mRNA detected in tissue extracts of the rat aorta most likely reflects 5-HT1B receptor expression in the arterioles of the vasa vasorum. These studies support the link between the 5-HT1B receptor and vascular contraction in that the aorta with low density of 5-HT1B receptors lacked responses to sumatriptan, an agonist thought to contract blood vessels via 5-HT1B/1D receptors. Furthermore, caution must be observed when using 5-HT1B receptor mRNA to suggest receptor protein in tissues since this RT-PCR product may be derived predominantly from small blood vessels.
authors.affiliation: Lilly Research Laboratories, Eli Lilly and Company, Lilly Corporate Center, Indianapolis, IN 46285, USA. cohenml@lilly.com
authors.forename: Marlene L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Cohen
authors.forename: Elizabeth J
authors.initials: EJ
authors.lastname: Galbreath
authors.forename: Kathryn W
authors.initials: KW
authors.lastname: Schenck
authors.forename: Danqing
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Beth J
authors.initials: BJ
authors.lastname: Hoffman
authors.forename: Anindya
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bhattacharya
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001013:Aorta, Thoracic / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology*; D004730:Endothelium, Vascular / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D008297:Male; D009131:Muscle, Smooth, Vascular / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D011817:Rabbits; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D044302:Receptor, Serotonin, 5-HT1B; D011985:Receptors, Serotonin / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D017366:Serotonin Receptor Agonists / Q000494:pharmacology; D018170:Sumatriptan / Q000494:pharmacology*; D014651:Vasa Vasorum / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology*; D014661:Vasoconstriction / Q000187:drug effects*; D014664:Vasodilation / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D012333:RNA, Messenger; D044302:Receptor, Serotonin, 5-HT1B; D011985:Receptors, Serotonin; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D017366:Serotonin Receptor Agonists; D018170:Sumatriptan