title: Endogenous 5-HT2B receptor activation regulates neonatal respiratory activity in vitro.
abstract: An implication of 5-HT(2B) receptors in central nervous system has not yet been clearly elucidated. We studied the role of different 5-HT(2) receptor subtypes in the medullary breathing center, the pre-Bötzinger complex, and on hypoglossal motoneurons in rhythmically active transversal slice preparations of neonatal rats and mice. Local microinjection of 5-HT(2) receptor agonists revealed tonic excitation of hypoglossal motoneurons. Excitatory effects of the 5-HT(2B) receptor agonist BW723C86 could be blocked by bath application of LY272015, a highly selective 5-HT(2B) receptor antagonist. Excitatory effects of the 5-HT(2A/B/C) receptor agonist alpha-methyl 5-HT could be blocked by the preferential 5-HT(2A) receptor antagonist ketanserin. Therefore, 5-HT-induced excitation of hypoglossal motoneurons is mediated by convergent activation of 5-HT(2A) and 5-HT(2B) receptors. Local microinjection of BW723C86 in the pre-Bötzinger complex increased respiratory frequency. Bath application of LY272015 blocked respiratory activity, whereas ketanserin had no effect. Therefore, endogenous 5-HT appears to support tonic action on respiratory rhythm generation via 5-HT(2B) receptors. In preparations of 5-HT(2B) receptor-deficient mice, respiratory activity appeared unaltered. Whereas BW723C86 and LY272015 had no effects, bath application of ketanserin disturbed and blocked rhythmic activity. This demonstrates a stimulatory role of endogenous 5-HT(2B) receptor activation at the pre-Bötzinger complex and hypoglossal motoneurons that can be taken up by 5-HT(2A) receptors in the absence of 5-HT(2B) receptors. The presence of functional 5-HT(2B) receptors in the neonatal medullary breathing center indicates a potential convergent regulatory role of 5-HT(2B) and -(2A) receptors on the central respiratory network.
authors.affiliation: Center of Anatomy, University of Göttingen, 37075 Göttingen, Germany.
authors.forename: Silke
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Günther
authors.forename: Luc
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Maroteaux
authors.forename: Stephan W
authors.initials: SW
authors.lastname: Schwarzacher
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000831:Animals, Newborn; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D007211:Indoles / Q000494:pharmacology; D007650:Ketanserin / Q000494:pharmacology; D007700:Kinetics; D051379:Mice; D008845:Microinjections; D009930:Organic Chemicals / Q000494:pharmacology; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D044402:Receptor, Serotonin, 5-HT2A / Q000502:physiology; D044403:Receptor, Serotonin, 5-HT2B / Q000502:physiology*; D012119:Respiration / Q000187:drug effects*; D058826:Serotonin 5-HT2 Receptor Agonists; D058830:Serotonin 5-HT2 Receptor Antagonists; D013876:Thiophenes / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: C092430:1-(5-(2-thenyloxy)-1H-indol-3-yl)propan-2-amine; D007211:Indoles; C118304:LY 272015; D009930:Organic Chemicals; D044402:Receptor, Serotonin, 5-HT2A; D044403:Receptor, Serotonin, 5-HT2B; D058826:Serotonin 5-HT2 Receptor Agonists; D058830:Serotonin 5-HT2 Receptor Antagonists; D013876:Thiophenes; D007650:Ketanserin