title: Microinjection of methysergide into the raphe nucleus attenuated phrenic long-term facilitation in rats.
abstract: Exposure to acute intermittent hypoxia (AIH) evokes persistent increase in respiratory activity that lasts up to 60 min after hypoxic episodes have ceased. This persistent increase in phrenic nerve activity (PNA) is known as phrenic long-term facilitation (LTF). AIH-induced phrenic LTF in anesthetized rats is serotonin dependant. The present study was performed to determine whether microinjection of methysergide (4 mM, 20 +/- 5 nl), a broad spectrum 5-HT receptor antagonist, into the caudal raphe nuclei influences phrenic LTF. Peak integrated PNA and respiratory frequency were recorded at 15, 30, and 60 min after five 3-min episodes of normocapnic hypoxia in urethane-anesthetized, vagotomized, paralyzed and ventilated male Sprague-Dawley rats. In control animals, phrenic nerve amplitude was elevated 66.7 +/- 8.6% from baseline 1 h after episodic hypoxia, indicating phrenic LTF. Experimental microinjections of methysergide prior to AIH exposure attenuated phrenic LTF (amplitude increase 2.62 +/- 2.9% over baseline). We conclude that methysergide microinjections into the caudal raphe region attenuated phrenic LTF induced by AIH, indicating involvement of 5-HT receptor activation at a supraspinal level.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neuroscience, University of Split School of Medicine, Soltanska 2, 21000, Split, Croatia. maja.valic@mefst.hr
authors.forename: Maja
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Valic
authors.forename: Renata
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Pecotic
authors.forename: Ivana
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Pavlinac
authors.forename: Zoran
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Valic
authors.forename: Kristina
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Peros
authors.forename: Zoran
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Dogas
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D017774:Long-Term Potentiation / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D008297:Male; D008784:Methysergide / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008845:Microinjections / Q000379:methods; D010791:Phrenic Nerve / Q000502:physiology*; D011903:Raphe Nuclei / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D011985:Receptors, Serotonin / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D012119:Respiration / Q000187:drug effects*; D012702:Serotonin Antagonists / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D011985:Receptors, Serotonin; D012702:Serotonin Antagonists; D008784:Methysergide