Investigation of 5-FU disposition after oral administration of capecitabine, a triple-prodrug of 5-FU, using a physiologically based pharmacokinetic model in a human cancer xenograft model: comparison of the simulated 5-FU exposures in the tumour tissue between human and xenograft model.

The nonlinear pharmacokinetics of capecitabine, a triple prodrug of 5-FU preferentially activated in tumour tissues, was investigated in human cancer xenograft models. A physiologically based pharmacokinetic (PBPK) model integrating the activation process of capecitabine to 5-FU and 5-FU elimination was constructed to describe the concentration/time profiles of capecitabine and its three metabolites, including 5-FU, in blood and organs. All the biochemical parameters (enzyme kinetic parameters, plasma protein binding and tissue binding of capecitabine and its metabolites) integrated in this model were measured in vitro. The simulated curves for the blood and tumour concentrations of capecitabine and its metabolites can basically describe the observed values. A simple prodrug of 5-FU, doxifluridine, is known to be activated to 5-FU to some extent in the gastrointestinal (GI) tract, causing diarrhoea, which is the dose limiting side effect of doxifluridine. Consequently, the therapeutic index (the ratio of 5-FU AUC in the tumour to that in GI) after the administration of effective dose capecitabine was predicted by this PBPK model and found to be five times and 3000 times greater than that of doxifluridine and 5-FU, respectively. This was compatible with the previous result for the difference in the ratio of the toxic dose to the minimum effective dose between capecitabine and doxifluridine, suggesting that 5-FU preferentially accumulates in tumour tissue after oral administration of capecitabine compared with the other drugs (doxifluridine and 5-FU). The 5-FU AUC in tumour tissue of human cancer xenograft models at the minimum effective dose was comparable with those estimated for humans at the clinical dose. In addition, the predicted therapeutic indices at the respective doses were correlated well between humans and mice (xenograft model). These results suggest that the 5-FU AUC in human tumour tissue at its clinically effective dose can be predicted based on the PBPK model inasmuch as the 5-FU AUC in a human cancer xenograft model at its effective dose may be measured or simulated.     

2014年中美药理学发展研究比较

为了解中国与美国药理学学科发展的概况,该文研究了2014年中国作者与美国作者发表的药理学国际论文情况,并对其特点进行了比较分析,以指引我国药理学未来发展的方向。该研究在2013版期刊引证报告自然科学版药理学期刊中检索2014年中国学者与美国学者发文情况。结果表明,2014年中国作者共参与发表文献5 506篇,其中中国作者为第一/通讯作者的文献5 173篇;而美国作者参与发表文献量远高于中国作者,共发表11 256篇,其中美国作者为第一/通讯作者的文献9 470篇。从发文期刊上看,美国科研人员发文期刊影响因子更高,文章被引用次数也更多。从发文数量上看,植物药研究在我国药理学研究领域中占有重要地位,而美国药理学家则更注重应用性研究,神经药理为其重点关注的领域。中国作者发文涉及的机构大都为大学和高校,而在美国,除大学和高校外,企业也更多地参与到药理学研究中。结果提示,中国药理学研究虽然取得了长足的进步,但与发达国家相比仍有差距。中国药理学研究需立足自身特点,突出特色,加强创新,重视应用型研究。     

A comparative study of functional 5-HT4 receptors in human colon, rat oesophagus and rat ileum.

1. The pharmacological properties of 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT), the 5-HT4 receptor agonists, DAU 6236 and SC 53116 and the 5-HT4 receptor antagonist, GR 1130808, were studied in the rat oesophagus, rat ileum and human colon. 2. 5-HT relaxed the longitudinal muscle of the rat oesophagus and rat ileum and the circular muscle of the human colon. Absolute values of relaxation were measured and showed the order of the maximum responses, rat oesophagus >> human colon > rat ileum with EC50 values of 189 +/- 15 nM, 157 +/- 4 nM, 306 +/- 72 nM, respectively. 5-HT also inhibited the spontaneous contractions of the human colon with an EC50 value of 119 +/- 1 nM. The effect of 5-HT on the human colon was not affected by methysergide (10 microM) or ondansetron (1 microM). 3. The use of the uptake and metabolism inhibitors, cocaine (30 microM) and pargyline (100 microM), did not increase the potency of 5-HT in the rat oesophagus or human colon. In the rat oesophagus, cocaine (30 microM) produced a reduction in carbachol-induced tone of 22.2 +/- 0.6% and reduced the 5-HT maximum effect by 52.0 +/- 0.4%. 4. The compounds, DAU 6236 and SC 53116, showed a different pattern of potencies and efficacies in the rat oesophagus, rat ileum and human colon compared to 5-HT. DAU 6236 relaxed the human colonic circular muscle with an EC50 value of 129 +/- 16 nM but its efficacy was less than that of 5-HT. DAU 6236 (1 microM) also antagonized the 5-HT-induced relaxation of the human colon with a dose-ratio of 9.9. In the rat oesophagus and rat ileum, DAU 6236 was inactive in the majority of tissues. In the minority of oesophagus tissues that did respond the EC50 value was 1.2 +/- 0.7 microM. DAU 6236 also antagonized the effect of 5-HT in the rat oesophagus in a non-surmountable fashion. SC 53116 relaxed the rat oesophagus with an EC50 value of 91 +/- 4 nM, with an efficacy less than that observed to 5-HT; however, at 200 nM it did not antagonize the 5-HT-induced relaxation of the rat oesophagus. SC 53116 showed no agonist activity in the rat ileum and human colon, but at 1 microM it did antagonize the effect of 5-HT in the human colon with a dose-ratio of 11.3 +/- 0.3.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)     

A comparative study of the pharmacokinetics of propranolol and its major metabolites in the rat after oral and vaginal administration

1. The concentrations of propranolol (PPL) and its metabolites were monitored by h.p.l.c. in serum of rats during the first 6 h after administering single doses (20 mg/kg) of PPL either orally or intravaginally (i.vg). 2. The results showed that PPL was quickly transferred to the systemic circulation from the rat vagina and the serum concentration profile as substantially altered by the route of administration. Serum concentrations of free PPL were significantly higher in i.vg-dosed animals than their oral dosed counterparts. 3. Inter-animal serum conc. variations of PPL and its metabolites in the i.vg-dosed rats were smaller than those of the orally treated females. 4. In comparison with the i.vg-dosed rats, the levels of PPL metabolites (propranolol glycol, naphthoxylactic acid, naphthoxyacetic acid) were greater by the oral route, though these differences were not statistically significant. 5. The serum elimination half-lives (t1/2)beta of PPL and its metabolites during the beta-phase were not significantly different in the two treatment groups. 6. Following i.vg application, both the AUC and the Cmax values of PPL were significantly greater than those of orally dosed females, while no statistically significant differences were found in the tmax values. 7. Comparison of the AUC values showed that relative bioavailability of PPL was approx. 36 times greater in i.vg-treated animals than those of the orally dosed rats.     

A comparative study of the pharmacokinetics of propranolol and its major metabolites in the rat after oral and vaginal administration

1. The concentrations of propranolol (PPL) and its metabolites were monitored by?h.p.l.c. in serum of rats during the first 6?h after administering single doses (20?mg/kg) of PPL either orally or intravaginally (i.vg).

2. The results showed that PPL was quickly transferred to the systemic circulation from the rat vagina and the serum concentration profile as substantially altered by the route of administration. Serum concentrations of free PPL were significantly higher in i.vg-dosed animals than their oral dosed counterparts.

3. Inter-animal serum conc. variations of PPL and its metabolites in the i.vg-dosed rats were smaller than those of the orally treated females.

4. In comparison with the i.vg-dosed rats, the levels of PPL metabolites (propranolol glycol, naphthoxylactic acid, naphthoxyacetic acid) were greater by the oral route, though these differences were not statistically significant.

5. The serum elimination half-lives (t_1/2)_β of PPL and its metabolites during the β-phase were not significantly different in the two treatment groups.

6. Following i.vg application, both the AUC and the C_max values of PPL were significantly greater than those of orally dosed females, while no statistically significant differences were found in the t_max values.

7. Comparison of the AUC values showed that relative bioavailability of PPL was approx. 36 times greater in i.vg-treated animals than those of the orally dosed rats.     

A conscious rat model involving bradycardia and hypotension after oral administration: a toxicokinetical study of aconitine

1.?A model of aconitine-induced bradycardia and hypotension, which is similar to aconitine poisoning in humans, was constructed in conscious rats by oral administration.

2.?Blood pressure (BP) and heart rate (HR) of Sprague-Dawley rats were measured using a volume pressure recording (VPR) system. The pharmacokinetics of toxic doses of aconitine and its metabolites were analyzed using UPLC-MS/MS.

3.?The HR was significantly decreased by 29% at 2?h after oral administration of 200?μg/kg aconitine. When the dose was increased to 400?μg/kg, systolic BP and diastolic BP were significantly decreased by 11% and 12% at 2?h after the administration, except when bradycardia occurred at 2?h and 4?h. The drug concentration-time curve showed a double-peak phenomenon in rats administered a 400?μg/kg dose. The AUC_0–12?h value in the 400?μg/kg group significantly increased 0.8-fold compared to the 200?μg/kg group. Moreover, a high plasma concentration of 16-O-demethyaconitine was found in the rats that received two toxic doses.

4.?In conclusion, bradycardia and hypotension are induced in conscious rats by a toxic dose of aconitine (400?μg/kg), and there was no significant difference in dose-normalized AUC_0–12?h values between oral administrations of 200?μg/kg and that of 400?μg/kg. However, the dose-normalized C_max and AUC_0–12?h values in 200?μg/kg and 400?μg/kg groups were significantly smaller than those in 100?μg/kg group. The metabolites of aconitine, 16-O-demethyaconitine, and benzoylaconitine may also contribute to the hypotensive response.     

Triethylenemelamine: comparative cytogenetic effects induced by oral or parenteral routes of administration in rats

Male mice and pregnant and nonpregnant female mice were pretreated with saline or SKF 525-A (50 mg/kg, ip) and gavaged 1 hr later with [¹⁴C]methaqualone (MTQ) (25 mg/kg). Unchanged [¹⁴C]MTQ was determined in some or all of the following tissues: brain, spinal cord, eye, liver, lung, heart, spleen, kidney, muscle, fat, uterus, plasma, amniotic fluid, placenta, whole fetus, fetal brain, and liver. In saline controls, the MTQ concentrations in most adult tissues, whole fetus, and fetal brain and liver reached peak values at 1.5 hr. The tissue to plasma concentration ratios for fat and uterus were 4.5 and 1.1, respectively; those for other tissues varied from a low of 0.3 for amniotic fluid to a high of 0.8 for liver. At 1.5 hr, the fetal brain and liver contained concentrations of MTQ lower than the corresponding maternal tissues. Except for fat, the amounts in various tissues declined to trace amounts at 24 hr. Brain, plasma, lung, and liver concentrations in males and nonpregnant females were not different from each other but were significantly lower than those in pregnant mice. SKF 525-A pretreatment shifted the peak concentrations of MTQ to 3 hr in most tissues and caused marked tissue elevations.     

Pharmacokinetics of single oral and multiple intravenous and oral administration of acebutolol enantiomers in a rat model

Acebutolol (AC), is a chiral, β -adrenergic blocking agent which possesses partial agonist activity and is metabolized to an equipotent chiral metabolite, diacetolol (DC). The enantiomeric disposition of AC is reported following racemic administration as a single oral (p.o., 50 mg kg⁻¹) or as a multiple thrice daily intravenous (i.v.) or p.o. dosing for four days in male Sprague–Dawley rats (n =6). Enantiomeric concentrations of AC and DC in plasma and urine were determined using a stereospecific HPLC assay. The bioavailabilities of R- and S-enantiomer were 0.40 and 0.39 after single dose administration of AC respectively. These values were increased to 0.51 and 0.53 after multiple dosing. Although no significant differences were found in AUC_0–∞ after single i.v. as compared with AUC_0–τ after multiple i.v. dosing of AC, the 39 and 45% increase in mean AUC_0–τ were found after multiple p.o. dosing over the corresponding AUC_0–∞, for the single p.o. dose of AC for R- and S-enantiomer, respectively. The disposition of DC as well as the urinary excretion of metabolite was stereoselective in favor of R-enantiomer after oral administration of AC. These results indicate that AC enantiomers have low availability and moderate extraction through the first-pass metabolism in a rat model. The higher AUC values after p.o. multiple dosing may suggest a saturable first-pass metabolism of AC. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

A comparative study of the pharmacology of inhibitors of GABA-metabolism

Four catalytic inhibitors of GABA-aminotransferase (GABA-T), viz. gabaculine, gamma-acetylenic GABA, gamma-vinyl GABA, and ethanolamine O-sulphate (EOS), as well as the unspecific enzyme inhibitor aminooxyacetic acid (AOAA), sodium valproate (VPA), and GABA itself were studied for anticonvulsant, biochemical, and toxic effects in mice. Elevations of the electroconvulsive threshold by 30 V were produced at the time of their maximal effect by the i.p. injection (AOAA s.c.) of 13 mg/kg AOAA, 37 mg/kg gabaculine, 65 mg/kg gamma-acetylenic GABA, 125 mg/kg VPA, 1,440 mg/kg EOS, 1,900 mg/kg gamma-vinyl GABA and 2,800 mg/kg GABA. At these doses, all drugs except GABA and VPA increased the clonic pentetrazole threshold to a similar extent, but differed in their increases in the brain content of GABA, which varied from 70% (EOS) to 300% (gamma vinyl GABA) as a consequence of decreases in the activity of GABA-T. The activity of the GABA-synthesizing enzyme glutamate decarboxylase was decreased only by gamma-acetylenic GABA. When determining the anticonvulsant effect of the different drugs against the convulsant ED 97 of pentetrazole, 3-mercaptopropionic acid, strychnine and maximal electroshock seizures, gabaculine, AOAA, VPA and in part gamma-vinyl GABA and GABA were efficacious enough to allow the determination of ED50 values, whereas gamma-acetylenic GABA and EOS showed no clear activity in any of these seizure models. Gabaculine and AOAA at their anticonvulsant ED50 were toxic or lethal. All inhibitors of GABA-T except EOS caused numerous side effects which cast doubt on the specificity of these drugs. The present results indicate that inhibitors of GABA-T hardly seem to be suited for treatment of convulsive disorders in human but are useful tools in studies of experimental epilepsy.     

The comparative pharmacology of the behavioral syndromes induced by TRH and by 5-HT in the rat

1. The relationship of the behavioral syndromes induced by the co-transmitters thyrotropin releasing hormone (TRH) and serotonin (5-HT) has not been previously studied with drugs selective for 5-HT receptor subtypes. 2. Both the TRH analog MK-771 (in naive rats) and 5-hydroxytryptophan (in rats with 5,7-dihydroxytryptamine [DHT] lesions) evoked reciprocal forepaw tapping, Straub tail, hunching, hindlimb abduction, and shaking behavior. Sniffing and rearing were features of the MK-771 but not the 5-HT syndrome. 3. 5-HTP potentiated MK-771-induced hyperthermia. 4. MK-771 evoked two types of shaking behavior, head shakes (HS) and wet-dog shakes (WDS). Neither independently was dose-related, unlike total shaking behaviors. 5. MK-771-induced shaking behavior was pharmacologically dissociated from other MK-771-evoked behaviors. A 5-HT1A agonist (8-OH-DPAT) blocked WDS, but like putative 5-HT1B (RU 24969) and 5-HT2 (DOI) agonists and the 5-HT antagonists methysergide (non-selective), ritanserin (5-HT2 selective), and l-propranolol (5-HT1 selective), it did not block other antagonists behavioural effects of MK-771. 6. Ipsapirone, a 5-HT1A-active drug purported both as an agonist and as an antagonist, inhibited MK-771-evoked WDS, like 8-OH-DPAT, but did not induce the serotonin syndrome, unlike 8-OH-DPAT. 7. DHT-treated rats were behaviorally supersensitive to 10 mg/kg MK-771 as indicated by a significantly shortened latency of onset of WDS and greater frequency of abnormal forepaw movements. The same rats were also supersensitive to 50 mg/kg 5-HTP to a significantly greater degree. 8. These data suggest behavioral relatedness of the TRH and 5-HT syndromes, but distinctive pharmacologic features and presumed mechanisms of action.     

Effect of oral administration of kefir on serum proinflammatory cytokines on 5-FU induced oral mucositis in patients with colorectal cancer

Summary  In order to investigate the effect of kefir consumption on mucositis induced by 5-FU based chemotherapy (CT), we monitored the systemic immune response by measurement of the serum proinflammatory cytokine levels and we evaluated the anti-microbial effect of kefir with an agar diffusion method. Forty patients with colorectal cancer were included in this randomized prospective study. On the first 5 days of each CT cycle, the study group received oral lavage with kefir and then swallowed 250 ml of kefir while control group received oral lavage with 0.09% NaCl twice a day. Before and after every cycle of CT, the oral mucosa was assessed. Serum proinflammatory cytokine levels were evaluated before the initiation and after the third and the sixth cycle. Kefir was administered in 99 out of 205 courses. Mucositis developed in 27.3% of the courses given with kefir administration and in 21.7% of the courses given with 0.9% NaCl oral rinses. The difference between the two groups was not statistically significant (p > 0.05). When we compared the serum proinflammatory cytokine levels of the two groups at the baseline and following the third and the sixth cycles, we again found no statistically significant difference (p > 0.05). Kefir consumption at the mentioned doses made no statistically significant effect on serum proinflammatory cytokine levels and on the incidence of mucositis development in cancer patients. Under in vitro conditions, kefir inhibits only Staphylococcus epidermidis.     

A comparative study of gene expression profiles in rat liver after administration of alpha-hexachlorocyclohexane and lindane

Alpha-hexachlorocyclohexane (alpha-HCH) is a stereoisomer of gamma-HCH, the active ingredient of lindane (> 99% gamma-HCH). In the present study, cDNA microarray technology was employed to identify changes in gene expression associated with toxicity in livers of male Fischer 344 rats after treatment with alpha-HCH (2, 20 mg/kg/day) and lindane (1, 10 mg/kg/day) by daily oral gavage for up to 28 days. Liver samples were obtained after 1, 3, 7, 14 and 28 days and compared for gene expression profiles. The dose of the alpha-HCH was higher than that of lindane and toxicity was greater, but the numbers of probe sets with differences in expression were fewer for the alpha-HCH-treated group except on Day 3. Only very few probe sets with differences in expression overlapped between alpha-HCH and lindane at each time point and the gene expression profiles were very dissimilar. Important liver-based differences in expression between alpha-HCH and lindane might possibly account for hepato-carcinogenicity of alpha-HCH.     

Interaction between valproic acid and acyclovir after intravenous and oral administration in a rabbit model

This study was undertaken to investigate the effect of co-administration of valproic acid and acyclovir on the pharmacokinetic parameters of each other. Fifteen white New Zealand rabbits were divided into three groups: A, B and C. Group A received acyclovir only, group B received valproic acid only and group C received a combination of acyclovir and valproic acid. In a cross-over design, the intravenous route was studied first, followed by the oral route after a 2-week wash-out period. Blood samples were drawn over 10 hr and the pharmacokinetic parameters were derived from the concentrations. After intravenous administration, the area under the plasma concentration time curve and plasma concentrations of acyclovir in group C were higher than in group A, while the volume of distribution and plasma clearance of acyclovir in group C were only 12.8% and 10.36% of those of group A, respectively. A similar trend was observed after oral administration. However, the bioavailability (F) of acyclovir was 8.4% in group A versus 1.5% in group C. In addition, the concentrations and kinetic parameters of valproic acid between the two groups after oral and intravenous administration were not different. In conclusion, co-administration of single doses of acyclovir and valproic acid led to reduced oral bioavailability of acyclovir, but increased concentrations of acyclovir due to reduced volume of distribution and clearance. These observations call for a cautious approach to the concomitant use of the two drugs until human studies are done.     

Enhanced absorption of 3-O-methyl glucose following gastrointestinal injury induced by repeated oral administration of 5-FU in mice

The absorption of nutrients is mainly mediated by specific carriers and generally retarded following gastrointestinal injury. The aim of this study was to assess the effect of repeated oral administration of 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) on the intestinal absorption of glucose by using 3-O-methyl-D-glucose (3-OMG), a glucose analogue that is not metabolized, as a probe. Repeated administration of 5-FU (60 mg/kg/day for 3 days) readily induced intestinal mucosal injury assessed by visual observation and loss of intestinal wet weight. At the same time, the carrier-dependent absorption clearance of 3-OMG was increased 1.8-fold, while the carrier-independent absorption assessed by L-glucose transport was not affected. Phloretin, a glucose transporter 2 (GLUT2) inhibitor, completely abolished the absorption of 3-OMG in both control and 5-FU-treated mice, indicating the specific effect on the carrier-dependent process. Protein and mRNA expressions of GLUT2 were significantly higher in 5-FU-treated mice compared to the control mice. Sodium (Na(+)) glucose co-transporter 1 (SGLT1) expressions were also moderately elevated in 5-FU-treated mice. Concomitantly, the uptake of D-glucose into both isolated brush border and basolateral membrane vesicles was significantly increased. These results indicate that repeated oral administration of 5-FU did not hamper, but unexpectedly induced, SGLT1 and GLUT2 expression to enhance glucose absorption.     

A comparative study on desipramine pharmacokinetics in the rat brain after administration of desipramine or imipramine.

Chronic intraperitoneal administration of desipramine led to an extensive cumulation of the drug in brain and blood compared with that after a single dose treatment, while chronic treatment with desipramine by the oral route produced a brain concentration comparable with its level after a single oral dose. Comparison of the present results with the corresponding data of published imipramine pharmacokinetics indicated that the cumulation of desipramine in the rat brain was nearly the same when rats received desipramine or imipramine twice a day for two weeks at a dose of 10 mg kg-1 orally, or imipramine, twice a day for two weeks at a dose of 10 mg kg-1 intraperitoneally. It is suggested that these three experimental paradigms may be used as models for differentiation of the pharmacological effects of imipramine and desipramine in-vivo.     

Chronopharmacokinetics of Cyclosporine A in the Wistar rat following oral administration.

The pharmacokinetics of Cyclosporine A (CsA) was studied in male Wistar rats weighting 300 +/- 50 g trained to a 12:12 light-dark cycle. Oral administration (40 mg/kg) was performed at 1 of 4 different temporal stages: 09.00 h, 15.00 h, 21.00 h or 03.00 h (local time) i.e. 0200, 0800, 1400 or 2000 HALO (hours after light on). Blood samples were collected over 72-96 h after dosing, plasma was separated by centrifugation at 37 degrees C and stored frozen until assay, using radioimmunoassay (RIA). Two experiments were performed: the first with 4 groups of 48 rats and a non-specific polyclonal antibody (P-RIA); and the second with only 2 groups of 48 rats and a more specific monoclonal antibody (M-RIA). Plasma concentration data were evaluated with model-based linear pharmacokinetic concepts, with apparent zero-order or first-order absorption and n-exponential disposition (n = 1, 2 or 3): models MN0 or MN1. A compartment-independent approach was also conducted and led to area under the plasma concentration-time curve (AUC) and mean residence time (MRT) determinations. A comparison of the pharmacokinetic profiles across time of administration indicates that absorption, first-pass metabolism and tissue distribution of CsA in the rat are circadian-dosing stage dependent.     

葛根素在大鼠体内的排泄过程与给药途径的相关性

目的 比较葛根素不同途径给药后的排泄过程.方法 太鼠经静脉或灌胃给予葛根素后,按一定时间段收集尿和粪便,以高效液相色谱荧光光谱法检测尿和粪样中的葛根素.结果 给大鼠灌胃葛根素混悬液后,葛根素由粪便中排泄的累积排泄率为41.56%,其中4～8h由粪便排泄量占由粪便排泄葛根素总量的75.26%,8～12h的排泄量占23.99%;12h内由尿中排泄的葛根素占给药量的0.64%,0～4h、4～8h葛根素由尿的排泄量分别占由尿排泄总量的27.91%和66.28%;24h内经粪便中排泄的葛根素约占排泄总量的98.40%.大鼠经尾静脉注射葛根素注射液24h内,葛根素由尿中排泄的累积排泄率为36.15%,而其中的97.43%是在前4h内排泄的;由粪便中排泄的葛根素占给药量的9.18%.而其中的99.19%是在给药后的8～12h之间排出的;24h内经尿中排泄的葛根素占排泄总量的79.64%.结论 葛根素的排泄与给药途径有关.大鼠灌胃给药后.葛根素主要经肠道排泄,而经静脉给药后,葛根素主要经肾脏排泄.     

Activation of 5-HT3 receptors in the rat and mouse intestinal tract: a comparative study

This study provides a comprehensive evaluation of 5-HT(3) receptor functional distribution in both the rat and mouse intestinal tract. 5-HT(3A-S) receptor splice variant mRNA was expressed throughout the intestine of the rat and mouse; the 5-HT(3A-L) variant being more common in the rat.5-HT, m-CPB, 1-PBG and 2-methyl-5-hydroxytryptamine (2m5-HT) induced contraction in the jejunum, ileum, proximal colon and distal colon of the rat (pEC(50) range: 2m5-HT, 5.86+/-0.40 to m-CPB, 7.47+/-0.27) and mouse (pEC(50) range: 1-PBG, 5.34+/-0.06 to m-CPB, 6.49+/-0.14) in the presence of nontarget 5-HT receptor antagonists, methysergide (1 muM) and GR125487 (0.1 microM). The rank orders of potency in the four regions of the rat and mouse intestine were concordant with the accepted order and the responses to 5-HT were inhibited by ondansetron (0.1 microM).5-HT(3)-induced contractions to 5-HT were reduced by tetrodotoxin (1 microM). Pargyline (10 muM) and fluoxetine (1 microM) potentiated responses in the rat jejunum. Atropine (0.1 microM) potentiated 5-HT(3)-induced responses in the rat jejunum (E(max) 49-65%), but attenuated responses in most other regions of the rat and mouse (e.g. mouse ileum: E(max) 57-26%). In the rat jejunum, L-NAME (100 microM) mimicked the effect of atropine, hexamethonium (100 microM) suppressed 5-HT(3)-induced responses, but tachykinin receptor antagonists were without effect. It is concluded that functional 5-HT(3) receptors are present in nerves along the length of the rat and mouse intestinal tract. The mouse proximal colon was found to discriminate 5-HT(3) receptor agonist profiles better than any other region in the rat or mouse. The rat jejunum shows evidence of 5-HT uptake and inactivation processes as well as inhibitory nitrergic and nontachykinin excitatory pathways associated with the 5-HT(3)-induced response.