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In the rat brain, the presynaptic 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) autoreceptors located on 5-HT terminals correspond to the 5-HT1B subtype. The presence of a 5-HT receptor probably located on 5-HT nerve endings and modulating transmitter release in the human neocortex has been reported, but its detailed pharmacological characterization is not yet available. On the other hand, receptor binding and autoradiographic results indicate that the 5-HT1B receptor subtype is not present in the human brain. We, therefore, studied the modulation of the electrically evoked release of [3H]5-HT by various 5-HT receptor agonists and antagonists in preloaded slices of human neocortex obtained from 18 patients undergoing neurosurgery. The nonselective 5-HT1A/1B/1D receptor agonist 5-carboxamidotryptamine produced a potent inhibition (70% at 0.03 microM) of the electrically evoked release of [3H]5-HT which was blocked by 5-HT receptor antagonists with the following relative order of potency: methiothepin greater than metergoline = methysergide greater than propranolol. The selective 5-HT1A receptor agonist 8-hydroxy-2-(di-n-propylamino)tetralin at 0.1 microM did not modify the electrically evoked release of [3H]5-HT. The 5-HT1A/1B receptor agonist RU 24969 was 10 times more potent at inhibiting [3H]5-HT overflow in the rat frontal cortex than in the human neocortex. The potent 5-HT1B receptor antagonist cyanopinodolol did not modify the 5-carboxamidotryptamine-induced inhibition of the electrically evoked release of [3H]5-HT in slices of the human neocortex, but produced by itself a small inhibition of [3H]5-HT overflow.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

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Plasma noradrenaline was assayed in schizophrenics selected according to research diagnostic criteria. Clinical symptomatology was simultaneously rated according to the comprehensive psychopathological rating scale. Global psychopathology, positive (delusional, hallucinatory), negative (autistic), paranoid and hallucinatory symptomatology were separately rated. Noradrenaline was significantly higher in schizophrenics than in a normal control group. A correlation analysis was applied to both psychopathology and plasmatic noradrenaline levels. Noradrenaline was significantly correlated (p < 0.05 to p < 0.02) with global psychopathology, positive symptoms and paranoid symptomatology. No correlation was demonstrated between plasma noradrenaline and negative and hallucinatory symptomatology. Plasma noradrenaline is proposed to be related to a high level of sympathetic general activity in schizophrenics, specially associated with paranoid symptomatology.

The effect of omega (benzodiazepine)-receptor agonists, antagonists, and inverse agonists on the electrically evoked release of 5-[3H]hydroxytryptamine ([3H]5-HT) was studied in superfused slices of the rat frontal cerebral cortex. The electrically evoked release of [3H]5-HT was enhanced by nanomolar concentrations of diazepam and the selective omega 1-receptor agonists alpidem and CL 218872. The omega 1/omega 2- and omega 1-receptor antagonists flumazenil and CGS 8216, respectively, did not modify the electrically evoked release of [3H]5-HT. The omega 3-receptor agonist Ro 5-4864 and the omega 1-receptor inverse agonist ethyl-beta-carboline-3-carboxylate on their own did not affect the electrically evoked release of [3H]5-HT. On the other hand, the inverse agonist 6,7-dimethoxy-4-ethyl-beta-carboline-3-carboxylic acid methyl ester (DMCM), at micromolar concentrations, inhibited both the spontaneous and the evoked release of [3H]5-HT. The facilitation of the electrically evoked release of [3H]5-HT by diazepam, alpidem, or CL 218872 was potentiated by gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA). Exposure to flumazenil and CGS 8216 antagonized the facilitation by diazepam, alpidem, or CL 218872 of [3H]5-HT release. The inhibition of the release of [3H]5-HT by DMCM was not modified by exposure to either flumazenil, CGS 8216, or GABA. The inhibitory effect of DMCM was not observed when monoamine oxidase activity was inhibited by pargyline.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)