title: Characterization of 5-HT7-receptor-mediated gastric relaxation in conscious dogs.
abstract: We aimed to evaluate the gastric relaxant capacity of the 5-HT(1/7)-receptor agonist 5-carboxamidotryptamine (5-CT) in conscious dogs and to clarify the mechanism of action by use of selective antagonists, vagotomy, and in vitro experiments. A barostat enabled us to monitor the intragastric volume in response to different treatments (intravenously administered) before and after supradiaphragmatic vagotomy [results presented as the maximum volume change after treatment (mean; n = 5-11)]. In vitro experiments were performed with isolated muscle strips cut from four different stomach regions of the vagotomized dogs [results were fitted to the operational model of agonism to determine the efficacy parameter tau (n = 5)]. 5-CT (0.5-10 microg/kg) caused a dose-dependent gastric relaxation (29-267 ml) that was completely blocked by the selective 5-HT(7)-receptor antagonist SB-269970 (50 microg/kg). After vagotomy, the relaxation to 10 microg/kg 5-CT was significantly less pronounced (73 vs. 267 ml; P < 0.05) but still blocked by SB-269970, whereas the response to the nitric oxide donor nitroprusside was similar to that before vagotomy (178 vs. 218 ml). In vitro, 5-CT concentration dependently inhibited the PGF(2alpha)-contracted muscle strips before and after vagotomy. Although before and after vagotomy the response in every region was mediated by 5-HT(7) receptors (apparent affinity dissociation constant: SB-269970, 8.2-8.6 vs. 8.3-8.6, respectively), the response after vagotomy was less efficacious (log tau: 1.9 to 0.5 vs. 1.4 to -0.1). The results indicate that the 5-CT-induced proximal stomach relaxation in conscious dogs before and after vagotomy is mediated via 5-HT(7) receptors. The decreased efficacy of 5-CT in vitro after vagotomy is probably related to vagotomy-induced changes in receptor density or coupling efficiency and provides a possible explanation for the decreased in vivo response to 5-CT after vagotomy.
authors.affiliation: Heymans Institute of Pharmacology, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium. Pieter.Janssen@AstraZeneca.com
authors.forename: Pieter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Janssen
authors.forename: Nicolaas H
authors.initials: NH
authors.lastname: Prins
authors.forename: Benoit
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Moreaux
authors.forename: Ann L
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Meulemans
authors.forename: Romain A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Lefebvre
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D003243:Consciousness; D004285:Dogs; D005260:Female; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D008954:Models, Biological; D009126:Muscle Relaxation / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D009130:Muscle, Smooth / Q000294:innervation / Q000502:physiology*; D010636:Phenols / Q000494:pharmacology; D011985:Receptors, Serotonin / Q000502:physiology*; D012701:Serotonin / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000494:pharmacology; D012702:Serotonin Antagonists / Q000494:pharmacology; D017366:Serotonin Receptor Agonists / Q000494:pharmacology; D013270:Stomach / Q000294:innervation / Q000502:physiology*; D013449:Sulfonamides / Q000494:pharmacology; D014628:Vagotomy
chemical_list: D010636:Phenols; D011985:Receptors, Serotonin; C404922:SB 269970; D012702:Serotonin Antagonists; D017366:Serotonin Receptor Agonists; D013449:Sulfonamides; C104425:serotonin 7 receptor; D012701:Serotonin; C047087:5-carboxamidotryptamine