title: The 5-HT1D/1B receptor agonist sumatriptan enhances fear of simulated speaking and reduces plasma levels of prolactin.
abstract: This study measured the effects of the preferential 5-HT1D/1B receptor agonist sumatriptan in healthy volunteers who performed the Simulated Public Speaking Test (SPST), which recruits the neural network involved in panic disorder and social anxiety disorder. In a double-blind, randomised experiment, 36 males received placebo (12), 50 mg (12) or 100 mg (12) of sumatriptan 2 h before the SPST. Subjective, physiological and hormonal measures were taken before, during and after the test. The dose of 100 mg of sumatriptan increased speech-induced fear more than either a 50mg dose of the drug or placebo. The largest dose of sumatriptan also enhanced vigilance more than placebo, without any change in blood pressure, heart rate or electrical skin conductance. Sumatriptan decreased plasma levels of prolactin. A significant but moderate increase in plasma cortisol after SPST occurred, independent of treatment. Because sumatriptan decreases 5-HT release into the extracellular space, the potentiation of SPST-induced fear caused by the drug supports the hypothesis that 5-HT attenuates this emotional state. As acute administration of antidepressants has also been shown to enhance speaking fear and increase plasma prolactin, in contrast to sumatriptan, the 5-HT regulation of stress-hormone release is likely to be different from that of emotion.
authors: 1Department of Neuroscience and Behaviour, Medical School of Ribeirão Preto, University of São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, Brazil.
authors: Marcos Gonçalves
authors: MG
authors: de Rezende
authors: Cybele
authors: C
authors: Garcia-Leal
authors: Frederico Guilherme
authors: FG
authors: Graeff
authors: Cristina Marta
authors: CM
authors: Del-Ben
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000502:physiology; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005239:Fear / Q000187:drug effects*; D005712:Galvanic Skin Response / Q000502:physiology; D006339:Heart Rate / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009415:Nerve Net / Q000502:physiology; D011388:Prolactin / Q000097:blood*; D044302:Receptor, Serotonin, 5-HT1B / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D044346:Receptor, Serotonin, 5-HT1D / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D058825:Serotonin 5-HT1 Receptor Agonists / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D013060:Speech / Q000502:physiology; D018170:Sumatriptan / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D044302:Receptor, Serotonin, 5-HT1B; D044346:Receptor, Serotonin, 5-HT1D; D058825:Serotonin 5-HT1 Receptor Agonists; D018170:Sumatriptan; D011388:Prolactin
keywords: 5-HT1D/1B receptor; Serotonin; anxiety; hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal axis; public speaking; sumatriptan