title: 5-HT3 receptors partially mediate halothane depression of spinal dorsal horn sensory neurons.
abstract: We recently reported that gamma-aminobutyric acid type A- and strychnine-sensitive glycine receptor systems partially mediate halothane depression of spinal dorsal horn low-threshold neurons. Serotonin subtype 3 (5-HT(3)) receptors belong to the same ligand-activated ion-channel family as gamma-aminobutyric acid type A- and strychnine-sensitive glycine receptors, so we examined the possible involvement of 5-HT receptor systems in halothane depression of spinal sensory neurons. Extracellular recordings of spinal low-threshold neurons were obtained in decerebrate, spinally transected rats. Receptive field size and brush-induced activity were recorded in the presence or absence of 5-HT antagonists and in the presence or absence of 1.1% (1 minimum alveolar anesthetic concentration) halothane. In the absence of halothane, antagonists had no effect on receptive field size or brush-induced activity. In the presence of halothane, methysergide, a nonselective 5-HT antagonist, and tropisetron, a selective 5-HT(3) antagonist, significantly reversed the halothane-induced reduction in receptive field size but did not alter halothane depression of brush-induced activity. Methiothepin, a 5-HT(1) antagonist, and ketanserin, a 5-HT(2) antagonist, did not reverse halothane depression. These results support the hypothesis that 5-HT(3) receptors partially mediate some inhibitory effects of halothane on spinal dorsal horn neurons.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results of this study support the hypothesis that halothane depression of spinal sensory neuronal responses to low-intensity stimuli is mediated, to a minor extent, by serotonin subtype 3 neurotransmitter systems.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anesthesiology, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut.
authors.forename: Masayuki
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Koshizaki
authors.forename: Mikito
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kawamata
authors.forename: Steven G
authors.initials: SG
authors.lastname: Shimada
authors.forename: Yoji
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Saito
authors.forename: J G
authors.initials: JG
authors.lastname: Collins
mesh_terms: D018685:Anesthetics, Inhalation / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000818:Animals; D003655:Decerebrate State / Q000503:physiopathology; D003864:Depression, Chemical; D006221:Halothane / Q000494:pharmacology*; D007211:Indoles / Q000494:pharmacology; D007650:Ketanserin / Q000494:pharmacology; D008719:Methiothepin / Q000494:pharmacology; D008784:Methysergide / Q000494:pharmacology; D009475:Neurons, Afferent / Q000187:drug effects*; D020671:Posterior Horn Cells / Q000187:drug effects*; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D011985:Receptors, Serotonin / Q000187:drug effects*; D044406:Receptors, Serotonin, 5-HT3; D012702:Serotonin Antagonists / Q000494:pharmacology; D013116:Spinal Cord / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects*; D000077526:Tropisetron
chemical_list: D018685:Anesthetics, Inhalation; D007211:Indoles; D011985:Receptors, Serotonin; D044406:Receptors, Serotonin, 5-HT3; D012702:Serotonin Antagonists; D008719:Methiothepin; D000077526:Tropisetron; D007650:Ketanserin; D006221:Halothane; D008784:Methysergide