This work aimed to evaluate the potential role of the 5-HT(7) receptor in nociception secondary to a sensitizing stimulus in mice. For this purpose, the effects of relevant ligands (5-HT(7) receptor agonists: AS-19, MSD-5a, E-55888; 5-HT(7) receptor antagonists: SB-258719, SB-269970; 5-HT(1A) receptor agonist: F-13640; 5-HT(1A) receptor antagonist: WAY-100635) were assessed on capsaicin-induced mechanical hypersensitivity, a pain behavior involving hypersensitivity of dorsal horn neurons (central sensitization). For the 5-HT(7) receptor agonists used, binding profile and intrinsic efficacy to stimulate cAMP formation in HEK-293F cells expressing the human 5-HT(7) receptor were also evaluated. AS-19 and E-55888 were selective for 5-HT(7) receptors. E-55888 was a full agonist whereas AS-19 and MSD-5a behaved as partial agonists, with maximal effects corresponding to 77% and 61%, respectively, of the cAMP response evoked by the full agonist 5-HT. Our in vivo results revealed that systemic administration of 5-HT(7) receptor agonists exerted a clear-cut dose-dependent antinociceptive effect that was prevented by 5-HT(7) receptor antagonists, but not by the 5-HT(1A) receptor antagonist. The order of efficacy (E-55888>AS-19>MSD-5a) matched their in vitro efficacy as 5-HT(7) receptor agonists. Contrary to agonists, a dose-dependent promotion of mechanical hypersensitivity was observed after administration of 5-HT(7) receptor antagonists, substantiating the involvement of the 5-HT(7) receptor in the control of capsaicin-induced mechanical hypersensitivity. These findings suggest that serotonin exerts an inhibitory role in the control of nociception through activation of 5-HT(7) receptors, and point to a new potential therapeutic use of 5-HT(7) receptor agonists in the field of analgesia.

Serotonin (5-hydroxytryptamine; 5-HT) inhibits the rat cardioaccelerator sympathetic outflow by 5-HT receptors. Because chronic blockade of sympatho-excitatory 5-HT receptors is beneficial in several cardiovascular pathologies, this study investigated whether sarpogrelate (a 5-HT receptor antagonist) alters the pharmacological profile of the above sympatho-inhibition. Rats were pretreated for 2 weeks with sarpogrelate in drinking water (30 mg/kg per day; sarpogrelate-treated group) or equivalent volumes of drinking water (control group). Animals were pithed and prepared for spinal stimulation (C-T) of the cardioaccelerator sympathetic outflow or for intravenous (i.v.) bolus injections of noradrenaline. Both procedures produced tachycardic responses remaining unaltered after saline. Continuous i.v. infusions of 5-HT induced a cardiac sympatho-inhibition that was mimicked by the 5-HT receptor agonists 5-carboxamidotryptamine (5-CT; 5-HT), CP 93,129 (5-HT), or PNU 142633 (5-HT), but not by indorenate (5-HT) in both groups; whereas LY344864 (5-HT) mimicked 5-HT only in sarpogrelate-treated rats. In sarpogrelate-treated animals, i.v. GR 127935 (310 μg/kg; 5-HT receptor antagonist) attenuated 5-CT-induced sympatho-inhibition and abolished LY344864-induced sympatho-inhibition; while GR 127935 plus SB 699551 (1 mg/kg; 5-HT receptor antagonist) abolished 5-CT-induced inhibition. These results confirm the cardiac sympatho-inhibitory role of 5-HT, 5-HT, and 5-HT receptors in both groups; nevertheless, sarpogrelate treatment specifically unmasked a cardiac sympatho-inhibition mediated by 5-HT receptors.

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1. In the present study, we investigated how alloxan-induced diabetes affects the ability of 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) to modulate bradycardia induced in vivo by electrical stimulation of the vagus nerve in pithed rats. We also analysed the type and/or subtype of 5-HT receptors involved. 2. Diabetes was induced in male Wistar rats with a single injection of alloxan (150 mg/kg, s.c.). Four weeks later, rats were anaesthetized, pretreated with atenolol and pithed. Electrical stimulation (3, 6 and 9 Hz) of the vagus nerve resulted in frequency dependent decreases in heart rate (HR). 3. In diabetic rats, intravenous bolus administration of high doses of 5-HT (100 and 200 microg/kg) increased the bradycardia induced by vagal electrical stimulation. Similarly, low doses (10 microg/kg) of the 5-HT(1/7) receptor agonist 5-carboxamidotryptamine (5-CT), increased vagally induced bradycardia. However, at high doses (50, 100 and 150 microg/kg), 5-CT reduced the bradycardia. Attenuation of the vagally induced bradycardia evoked by the higher doses of 5-CT was reproduced by L-694,247 (50 microg/kg), a selective agonist for the non-rodent 5-HT(1B) and 5-HT(1D) receptors. Enhancement of the vagally induced bradycardia elicited by low doses of 5-CT was reproduced by the selective 5-HT(1A) receptor agonist 8-hydroxydipropylaminotretalin hydrobromide (8-OH-DPAT; 50 microg/kg). These stimulatory and inhibitory actions on vagal stimulation-induced bradycardia in diabetic rats were also observed after administration of exogenous acetylcholine. 4. Vagally induced bradycardia in diabetic rats was not affected by administration of the selective 5-HT(2) receptor agonist alpha-methyl-5-HT (150 microg/kg), the selective 5-HT(3) receptor agonist 1-phenylbiguanide (150 microg/kg) or the selective 5-HT(1B) receptor agonist CGS-12066B (50 microg/kg). 5. Enhancement of the electrical stimulation-induced bradycardia in diabetic rats caused by 5-CT (10 microg/kg) or 8-OH-DPAT (50 microg/kg) was abolished by the selective 5-HT(2/7) receptor antagonist mesulergine (1 mg/kg) and the selective 5-HT(1A) receptor antagonist WAY-100,635 (100 microg/kg), respectively. Similarly, pretreatment with the non-selective 5-HT(1) receptor antagonist methiothepin (0.1 mg/kg) blocked the inhibitory effect of 5-CT (50 microg/kg) on the bradycardia induced by vagal electrical stimulation in diabetic rats. BRL-15572 (2 microg/kg), a selective 5-HT(1D) receptor antagonist, inhibited the action of L-694,247 (50 microg/kg), a selective agonist for the non-rodent 5-HT(1B) and 5-HT(1D) receptors, on the vagally induced bradycardia. 6. In conclusion, in the present study, experimental diabetes evoked changes in both the nature and 5-HT receptor types/subtypes involved in vagally induced bradycardia.