title: Downregulated hypothalamic 5-HT3 receptor expression and enhanced 5-HT3 receptor antagonist-mediated improvement in fatigue-like behaviour in cholestatic rats.
abstract: The serotonin neurotransmitter system, including the 5-HT(3) receptor, has been implicated in the genesis of fatigue in patients with liver disease. Therefore, we examined the possible role of 5-HT(3) receptors in cholestasis-associated fatigue. Rats were either bile duct resected (BDR) or sham resected and studied 10 days postsurgery. A significant decrease in hypothalamic 5-HT(3) receptor expression was detected by immunohistochemistry and Western blot in BDR vs sham rats, coupled with increased hypothalamic serotonin turnover identified by an elevated 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid (5-HIAA) to 5-HT ratio in BDR vs sham rats. To examine fatigue-like behaviour, an activity meter was used. BDR rats exhibited significantly lower locomotor activity than did sham animals. Subcutaneous injection of the 5-HT(3) receptor antagonist tropisetron (0.1 mg kg(-1)) resulted in significantly increased locomotor activity in BDR rats compared to the activity in saline-treated controls, but was without effect in sham rats. However, a 10-fold higher dose of tropisetron significantly increased locomotor activity in both BDR and sham rats compared to saline-injected controls. These findings indicate that cholestasis in the rat is associated with increased hypothalamic serotonin turnover, decreased hypothalamic 5-HT(3) receptor expression, and enhanced sensitivity to locomotor activation induced by 5-HT(3) receptor antagonism, thereby implicating the 5-HT(3) receptor system in cholestasis associated fatigue.
authors.affiliation: Gastrointestinal Research Group, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada.
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Nguyen
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: le
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Ho
authors.forename: K A
authors.initials: KA
authors.lastname: Sharkey
authors.forename: M G
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Swain
mesh_terms: D000410:Alanine Transaminase / Q000097:blood; D000818:Animals; D001663:Bilirubin / Q000097:blood; D015153:Blotting, Western; D002779:Cholestasis / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000523:psychology*; D015536:Down-Regulation / Q000187:drug effects; D005221:Fatigue / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology / Q000523:psychology*; D006897:Hydroxyindoleacetic Acid / Q000097:blood; D007031:Hypothalamus / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D007211:Indoles / Q000494:pharmacology; D008297:Male; D009043:Motor Activity / Q000187:drug effects; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D044406:Receptors, Serotonin, 5-HT3 / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics; D012701:Serotonin / Q000097:blood; D012702:Serotonin Antagonists / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000077526:Tropisetron
chemical_list: D007211:Indoles; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D044406:Receptors, Serotonin, 5-HT3; D012702:Serotonin Antagonists; D012701:Serotonin; D006897:Hydroxyindoleacetic Acid; D000077526:Tropisetron; D000410:Alanine Transaminase; D001663:Bilirubin