This study attempted to characterize pharmacologically the involvement of 5-HT(2A) receptors in 5-HT-induced contractile responses in human umbilical vein (HUV) rings employing functional and radioligand binding assays. In HUV rings, prazosin 1 micro M did not affect contractile responses elicited by 5-HT, ruling out the involvement of alpha(1)-adrenoceptors in contractile responses to 5-HT. 5-HT-induced contractions were competitively blocked by ketanserin, a 5-HT(2A)-selective antagonist. The apparent pA(2) value was 9.8 and the Schild slope significantly less than unity, suggesting that 5-HT-induced responses are mediated by a heterogeneous receptor population. Alpha-methyl-5-HT, a selective 5-HT(2) receptor agonist, induced contractions that were antagonized in a competitive manner by ketanserin. The slope regression was not significantly different from unity and the pA(2) value was 8.8. The selective 5-HT(2A) ligand spiperone produced a parallel rightward shift on 5-HT CRCs in HUV rings. The calculated pA(2) was 9.0, which is in accord for an interaction with the 5-HT(2A) receptor subtype. Alpha-methyl-5-HT CRCs were competitively blocked by spiperone treatment. The Schild analysis yielded a pA(2) of 9.1 with a slope not significantly different from unity. The 5-HT(2C/2A) antagonist mesulergine 10 nM did not affect 5-HT CRCs, suggesting that 5-HT(2C) receptors are not involved in 5-HT-elicited contractions. Higher concentrations of mesulergine showed a parallel rightward shift on 5-HT responses. The calculated pA(2) was 7.44, which suggests an interaction with the 5-HT(2A) receptor subtype. In addition, mesulergine competitively blocked alpha-methyl-5-HT CRCs. The Schild slope was not significantly different from unity and the p A(2) value was 7.98. The binding of [(3)H]ketanserin to HUV membranes was saturable and of high affinity. Ketanserin displayed a monophasic curve which was best fit with a single component of binding. Nonlinear least squares analysis of the binding curves revealed a high affinity K(d) of 0.30 nM and a B(max) of 134 fmol/mg protein. These findings provide strong pharmacological evidence of the involvement of 5-HT(2A) receptors in 5-HT-induced vasoconstriction in HUV. In addition, the contribution of another receptor population cannot be excluded. The results also suggest that this receptor population is neither an alpha(1)-adrenoceptor nor a 5-HT(2C) receptor subtype.

Objectives Concern about adverse effects of progestins on mood has influenced the use of medroxyprogesterone (MPA) and other progestins. In this brief report, we examined whether administration of MPA leads to depressive symptoms in two groups of peri- and postmenopausal women randomly assigned to treatment with estrogen: one currently experiencing clinical depression and another without depression. Methods Open-label MPA 10-mg/day was administered for 14 days for endometrial protection after completion of double-blinded treatment with 17-β-estradiol 0.1-mg/day for 8–12 weeks in 40–60-year-old peri/postmenopausal women enrolled in two separate randomized placebo-controlled trials for treatment of cognitive problems (“non-depressed group”) or clinical depression (“depressed group”). Non-parametric tests were used to compare changes in depressive symptoms on the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) within each group and between groups during MPA therapy. Results Of 24 non-depressed (median BDI at baseline 5.5, interquartile range [IQR] 2.5, 8.5) and 14 depressed (median BDI at baseline, 17, IQR 15, 21) women treated with MPA, BDI scores did not change during MPA treatment in either group (median change 0, IQR −2, 0.5, and median 0, IQR −0.5, 1.5, p=0.28 and p=0.50, respectively). Changes in BDI scores during treatment with MPA did not differ between groups (p=0.25). Conclusions Among women receiving MPA for two weeks following discontinuation of estradiol, depressive symptoms did not emerge on MPA. These findings were consistent for both depressed and non-depressed women, suggesting that, even among women who are currently experiencing depression, brief treatment with MPA is unlikely to disrupt mood.

Previous studies have shown that a heterogeneous 5-HT receptor population may be involved in vasoconstrictor actions of 5-HT in human umbilical vein (HUV). The aim of the present study was to evaluate whether the 5-HT(1B/1D) receptor subtype mediates contraction in this tissue. 5-HT(1B/1D)-mediated responses can be enhanced or unmasked after exposure to threshold or sub-threshold KCl concentrations. In HUV rings, when 5-HT, alpha-Me-5HT or bradykinin concentration-response curves (CRC) were generated in the presence or absence of sub-threshold concentrations of KCl, there were not significant differences between the control and the treated rings. On the other hand, sumatriptan, the classic selective 5-HT(1B/1D) receptor agonist, produced a concentration-related contraction that was potentiated in the presence of sub-threshold KCl concentration. In addition, L-694,247, the novel selective 5-HT(1B/1D) receptor agonist, displayed a concentration-dependent contraction with high potency in HUV. The presence of sub-threshold concentrations of KCl produced a marked leftward shift of its CRCs.GR-55562, a 5-HT(1B/1D)-selective antagonist, competitively blocked sumatriptan CRCs with an estimated p A(2) of 8.00 and a slope not different from unity. Likewise, SB-216641, a selective 5-HT(1B) antagonist, produced a parallel rightward shift of sumatriptan CRCs in HUV. The Schild analysis yielded a p A(2) of 9.29, with a slope not different from unity. In addition, L-694,247 contractile responses were competitively blocked by SB-216641 with an estimated p A(2) value of 9.12 and a Schild slope not different from unity. On the other hand, ketanserin behaved as a weak antagonist of L-694,247-induced responses, yielding a calculated p A(2) value of 6.40. In summary, the results obtained in this study support that the 5-HT(1B) receptor subtype is involved in vasoconstrictor responses in HUV.