Functional interactions between 5-HT2A and presynaptic 5-HT1A receptor-based responses in mice genetically deficient in the serotonin 5-HT transporter (SERT).
OBJECTIVE
Despite decreased presynaptic 5-HT(1A) and altered 5-HT(2A) receptor function in genetically-deficient serotonin (5-HT) transporter (SERT) mice, the 5-HT(1A) receptor antagonist N-[2-[4-(2-methoxyphenyl)-1-piperazinyl]ethyl]-N-2-pyridinylcyclohexanecarboxamide maleate salt (WAY 100635) still induced head twitches in these mice, a well-established 5-HT(2A) receptor-mediated response.


METHODS
Interactions between 5-HT(1A) and 5-HT(2A) receptors were assessed using the head-twitch response following 5-HT(1A) and 5-HT(2A) receptor agonists and antagonists in SERT wild-type (+/+), heterozygous (+/-), and knockout (-/-) mice. The role of brain 5-HT availability in WAY 100635 induced head twitches was also examined.


RESULTS
WAY 100635 induced head twitches in a SERT gene-dose dependent manner, inducing 5-fold more head twitches in SERT -/- versus SERT +/+ mice. In SERT -/- mice, inhibition of 5-HT synthesis with p-chlorophenylalanine (PCPA) markedly depleted tissue 5-HT in all five brain areas examined and abolished WAY 100635 induced head twitches. Further, the selective 5-HT reuptake inhibitor fluvoxamine increased WAY 100635 induced head twitches in SERT +/+ and +/- mice. Head twitches following the 5-HT(2A) receptor agonist (+/-)-2,5-dimethoxy-4-iodophenyl-2-aminopropane (DOI) were robust in SERT +/+ and +/- mice but much reduced in SERT -/- mice. DOI-induced head twitches were decreased by the 5-HT(1A) agonist 8-hydroxy-2-(di-n-propylamino)tetralin (8-OH-DPAT) in SERT +/+ and +/- mice. All drug-induced head twitches were blocked by the 5-HT(2A) receptor antagonist a-Phenyl-1-(2-phenylethyl)-4-piperidinemethanol (MDL 11,939).


CONCLUSIONS
These data show that indirect activation of 5-HT(2A) receptors via blockade of presynaptic 5-HT(1A) receptors potentiated head-twitch responses, suggesting functional interactions between these receptors, interactions affected by altered 5-HT availability. Our findings strongly support the correlation of WAY 100635 induced head twitches with increased 5-HT availability, induced genetically or pharmacologically.
Laboratory of Clinical Science, National Institute of Mental Health, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892-1264, USA. mfox@mail.nih.gov
Meredith A
MA
Fox
Alison R
AR
Stein
Helen T
HT
French
Dennis L
DL
Murphy
D000818:Animals; D001921:Brain / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D018628:Gene Dosage; D019416:Head Movements / Q000187:drug effects; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D018345:Mice, Knockout; D017729:Presynaptic Terminals / Q000378:metabolism*; D044282:Receptor, Serotonin, 5-HT1A / Q000378:metabolism*; D044402:Receptor, Serotonin, 5-HT2A / Q000378:metabolism*; D017661:Receptors, Presynaptic / Q000378:metabolism*; D012701:Serotonin / Q000378:metabolism*; D058829:Serotonin 5-HT1 Receptor Antagonists; D058830:Serotonin 5-HT2 Receptor Antagonists; D012702:Serotonin Antagonists / Q000494:pharmacology; D050486:Serotonin Plasma Membrane Transport Proteins / Q000172:deficiency* / Q000235:genetics; D017366:Serotonin Receptor Agonists / Q000494:pharmacology; D017367:Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology
D044282:Receptor, Serotonin, 5-HT1A; D044402:Receptor, Serotonin, 5-HT2A; D017661:Receptors, Presynaptic; D012701:Serotonin; D058829:Serotonin 5-HT1 Receptor Antagonists; D058830:Serotonin 5-HT2 Receptor Antagonists; D012702:Serotonin Antagonists; D050486:Serotonin Plasma Membrane Transport Proteins; D017366:Serotonin Receptor Agonists; D017367:Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors; C493231:Slc6a4 protein, mouse