title: 5HT2 receptor activation facilitates P2X receptor mediated excitatory neurotransmission to cardiac vagal neurons in the nucleus ambiguus.
abstract: Parasympathetic preganglionic cardiac vagal neurons (CVNs) which dominate the control of heart rate are located within the nucleus ambiguus (NA). Serotonin (5HT), and in particular 5HT2 receptors, play an important role in cardiovascular function in the brainstem. However, there is a lack of information on the mechanisms of action of 5HT2 receptors in modulating parasympathetic cardiac activity. This study tests whether activation of 5HT2 receptors alters excitatory glutamatergic and purinergic neurotransmission to CVNs. Application of alpha-methyl-5-hydroxytryptamine (alpha-Me-5HT), a 5HT2 agonist, reversibly increased both the frequency and amplitude of miniature excitatory postsynaptic currents (mEPSCs) in CVNs. Similar responses were obtained with alpha-methyl-5-(2-thienylmethoxy)-1H-indole-3-ethanamine hydrochloride (BW723C86), and m-chlorophenylpiperazine (m-CPP), 5HT2B and 5HT2B/C receptor agonists, respectively. The facilitation evoked by alpha-Me-5HT was prevented by the 5HT2B/C receptor antagonist SB206553 hydrochloride (SB206553). Interestingly, the blockage of both NMDA and non-NMDA glutamatergic receptors did not prevent alpha-Me-5HT-evoked facilitation of mEPSCs, however, the responses were blocked by the P2 receptor antagonist pyridoxal-phosphate-6-azophenyl-2',4'-disulfonic acid (PPADS). The responses evoked by alpha-Me-5HT were mimicked by application of alpha,beta-methylene ATP (alpha,beta-Me-ATP), a P2X receptor agonist, which were also blocked by PPADS. In summary, these results indicate activation of 5HT2 receptors facilitates excitatory purinergic, but not glutamatergic, neurotransmission to CVNs.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology and Physiology, The George Washington University, 2300 Eye Street NW, Washington, DC 20037, USA.
authors.forename: Olga
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Dergacheva
authors.forename: Xin
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Harriet
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kamendi
authors.forename: Qi
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Cheng
authors.forename: Ramon Manchon
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Pinol
authors.forename: Heather
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Jameson
authors.forename: Christopher
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Gorini
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Mendelowitz
mesh_terms: D000200:Action Potentials / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D000818:Animals; D000831:Animals, Newborn; D004347:Drug Interactions; D018691:Excitatory Amino Acid Antagonists / Q000494:pharmacology; D019706:Excitatory Postsynaptic Potentials / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D007211:Indoles / Q000494:pharmacology; D009474:Neurons / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D009714:Nucleus Accumbens / Q000166:cytology*; D011725:Pyridines / Q000494:pharmacology; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D018048:Receptors, Purinergic P2 / Q000502:physiology*; D058469:Receptors, Purinergic P2X; D044348:Receptors, Serotonin, 5-HT2 / Q000502:physiology*; D012701:Serotonin / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000494:pharmacology; D012702:Serotonin Antagonists / Q000494:pharmacology; D017366:Serotonin Receptor Agonists / Q000494:pharmacology; D013876:Thiophenes / Q000494:pharmacology; D014630:Vagus Nerve / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: C092430:1-(5-(2-thenyloxy)-1H-indol-3-yl)propan-2-amine; D018691:Excitatory Amino Acid Antagonists; D007211:Indoles; D011725:Pyridines; D018048:Receptors, Purinergic P2; D058469:Receptors, Purinergic P2X; D044348:Receptors, Serotonin, 5-HT2; D012702:Serotonin Antagonists; D017366:Serotonin Receptor Agonists; D013876:Thiophenes; C042390:alpha-methylserotonin; D012701:Serotonin; C094868:SB 206553