Regulation of 5-HT(1A) receptor-stimulated [35S]-GtpgammaS binding as measured by quantitative autoradiography following chronic agonist administration

1. Because changes 5-HT(1A) receptor number do not occur following repeated agonist treatment, we hypothesized that the basis for 5-HT(1A) receptor desensitization involves changes in receptor-G protein coupling. We measured the effect of repeated agonist administration on 5-HT(1A) receptor-stimulated [(35)S]-GTPgammaS binding in forebrain areas, (i.e. anterior cingulate cortex, lateral septum, hippocampus, entorhinal cortex), and serotonergic cell body areas, the dorsal and median raphe nuclei. 2. Following treatment of rats with (+/-)8-OH-DPAT (1 mg kg(-1), s.c.) for 7 or 14 days, 5-HT(1A) receptor-stimulated [(35)S]-GTPgammaS binding was significantly attenuated in both the dorsal and median raphe nuclei. 3. 5-HT(1A) receptor-stimulated [(35)S]-GTPgammaS binding was significantly attenuated in the CA(1) region of the hippocampus after 7, but not 14 days of 8-OH-DPAT administration. 5-HT(1A) receptor-stimulated [(35)S]-GTPgammaS binding was not altered in other forebrain areas examined. 4. The binding of [(3)H]-MPPF to 5-HT(1A) receptor sites was not altered in any brain region examined following repeated agonist administration, suggesting that the observed changes in (+/-)8-OH-DPAT-stimulated [(35)S]-GTPgammaS binding were not due to changes in 5-HT(1A) receptor number. 5. Our data indicate that in serotonergic cell body areas the regulation of presynaptic 5-HT(1A) receptor function following repeated agonist administration occurs at the level of receptor-G protein interaction. In forebrain areas, however, the regulation of postsynaptic 5-HT(1A) receptor sensitivity appears not to be at the level of receptor-G protein coupling.     

Constitutive activity at serotonin 5-HT(1D) receptors: detection by homologous GTPgammaS versus [(35)S]-GTPgammaS binding isotherms

Although many G-protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) may display constitutive activity, their detection has, to date, depended on the use of inverse agonists. The present study exploited a novel procedure to investigate constitutive activity at recombinant human (h) serotonin (5-HT) 5-HT(1D) receptors stably expressed in Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells. 5-HT modestly stimulated guanosine-5'-O-(3-[(35)S]thio)-triphosphate ([(35)S]-GTPgammaS) binding to CHO-h5-HT(1D) membranes whereas methiothepin and the 5-HT(1B/1D)-selective ligand, SB224,289, exerted robust inhibition of basal [(35)S]-GTPgammaS binding (inverse agonism). These actions were specific inasmuch as they were reversed by the novel, selective 5-HT(1B/1D) ligand, S18127. Constitutive activity was investigated by homologous inhibition of [(35)S]-GTPgammaS binding to CHO-h5-HT(1D) membranes with unlabelled GTPgammaS. Under 'basal' conditions (absence of receptor ligand), biphasic isotherms were observed. Most (80%) [(35)S]-GTPgammaS binding sites were in the high affinity (HA) versus low affinity (LA) component of the isotherms. HA binding was augmented by 5-HT (to 155%; relative to basal values=100%), but decreased by methiothepin (to 23%) and by SB224,289 (to 67%). In contrast, LA binding was not altered. Further, membranes of untransfected CHO cells exhibited only LA binding sites, indicating that the latter are not related to h5-HT(1D) receptor-G-protein coupling. Thus, at 5-HT(1D) receptors expressed in this CHO cell line, HA binding detected in homologous inhibition experiments (GTPgammaS versus [(35)S]-GTPgammaS) under basal conditions provides a measure of constitutive G-protein activation. Thus, it is suggested that for h5-HT(1D) receptors and, possibly, other GPCRs, inverse agonists will be detectable by [(35)S]-GTPgammaS binding if a HA component is present under basal conditions.     

Agonist-stimulated GTPgamma[35S] binding to 5-HT(1A) receptors in human post-mortem brain

In this study, we have demonstrated that the technique of agonist-stimulated guanosine-5'-O-(3-[35S]thio)-triphosphate (GTPgamma[35S]) binding can be successfully used to study the functional activity of the human 5-HT(1A) receptor in post-mortem tissue. Full agonist and antagonist actions of ligands specific for this site have been shown. Utilising 4-(2'-methoxy-phenyl)-1-[2'-(n-2'-pyridinyl)-p-fluorobenzamido]- ethyl-piperazine ([3H]MPPF), the affinity of several antipsychotics for the 5-HT(1A) receptor was determined; clozapine and quetiapine were found to have K(i) values at this receptor that, relative to their dopamine D(2) receptor affinities, indicated at least partial receptor occupancy at clinical doses. The agonist/antagonist activity of these two antipsychotics was studied using GTPgamma[35S] binding. Both compounds show partial agonism, and in addition, clozapine exhibited a larger degree of antagonism against 5-HT-stimulated binding than did quetiapine.     

Rapid desensitization of 5-HT(1A) receptors in Fawn-Hooded rats after chronic fluoxetine treatment.

Anxiety, platelet serotonin (5-HT) content and functions of the 5-HT(1A) receptor agonist 8-hydroxy-2-(di-n-propylamino)tetralin (8-OH-DPAT) were measured in Sprague--Dawley (SD) and Fawn-Hooded (FH) rats, a strain with genetically impaired 5-HT storage and reuptake system and a putative model of depression and anxiety. In addition, the effects of 7 and 16 days treatment with the selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) fluoxetine on 8-OH-DPAT-induced responses were studied. FH rats showed significantly higher anxiety in the social interaction test, and much lower platelet 5-HT content compared to SD rats. The efficacy of 8-OH-DPAT (15-120 microg/kg, i.v.) to induce lower lip retraction (an effect mediated by median raphe receptors) was increased in FH rats. In most FH but only a few SD rats a special neurological syndrome, clonic movement of the masseters and in-and-out movement of the eyeballs, was induced by 8-OH-DPAT, and this behaviour like other effects of 8-OH-DPAT, was completely blocked by pretreatment with the 5-HT(1A) receptor antagonist WAY-100635. In SD rats fluoxetine (10 mg/kg/day, i.p.) caused a moderate inhibition of 8-OH-DPAT-induced hypothermia, an effect mediated most likely by hypothalamic 5-HT(1A) receptors, (-19% and -40% after 7 and 16 days of fluoxetine, 24 h after the last injection, respectively). In FH rats fluoxetine caused a rapid and complete reduction in the 8-OH-DPAT-induced hypothermia (-65% and -91% after 7 and 16 days of fluoxetine, respectively). Fluoxetine caused no change in lower lip retraction but a reduction in the masseter-eyeball syndrome in both SD and FH rats. Our data provide evidence that in FH rats, median raphe 5-HT(1A) receptors are hypersensitive, and the hypothalamic 5-HT(1A) receptor desensitization, caused by SSRI antidepressants, is faster and more complete. These data support the notion that chronic treatment with SSRIs induces a desensitization of some 5-HT(1A) receptor populations, and impaired 5-HT storage and reuptake may accelerate this process.     

Pharmacological characterization of acetylcholine-stimulated [35S]-GTP gamma S binding mediated by human muscarinic m1-m4 receptors: antagonist studies.

1. We have used dose-ratio analysis to estimate functionally the affinity constants (pKb) and Schild slope factors of a range of selective or atypical antagonists at human muscarinic m1-m4 receptors. 2. The functional response was the stimulation by acetylcholine of [35S]-GTP gamma S binding to membranes from Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells stably expressing individual receptor subtypes. 3. A novel experimental design and analysis was used which allowed the estimation of affinity and Schild slope factor from a single antagonist inhibition curve, and the results were compared with other methods of analysis, both theoretically valid and invalid. 4. In general, the affinity estimates were very similar to previously reported values obtained in binding studies with animal tissues and cloned human receptors and the Schild slope factors were close to unity. 5. These results demonstrate the validity of the assay and provide no evidence for species differences in antagonist affinity for muscarinic receptor subtypes. 6. The results confirm both the utility of himbacine in distinguishing between m1 and m4 receptors and a previously reported modest m4-selectivity for tropicamide and secoverine. 7. The cholinesterase inhibitor, tacrine (THA), had a potency profile similar to that of gallamine but with less selectivity. Its affinity could not be determined since it had Schild slope factors of about 2 at all subtypes. 8. o-Methoxy-sila-hexocyclium had only a modest selectivity for the m1 subtype.     

Repeated treatment with antidepressants differentially alters 5-HT1A agonist-stimulated [35S]GTP gamma S binding in rat brain regions

Electrophysiological studies have led to the proposal that the neurobiological mechanism(s) underlying drug therapy of anxiety and depression involve(s) regionally specific adaptations in 5-HT_1A receptor sensitivity. Depending on the drug utilized, a decrease in sensitivity of inhibitory somatodendritic autoreceptors, an increase in sensitivity of postsynaptic receptors, or both alterations, occur after several weeks of treatment. This hypothesis was tested using N,N-dipropyl-5-carboxamidotryptamine-stimulated guanosine-5′-O-(3-thio)triphosphate ([³⁵S]GTPγS) binding assessed by autoradiography. Rats were treated for 21 days with one of four different anxiolytic/antidepressant drugs (in mg/kg): fluoxetine (10), imipramine (10), clorgyline (1), ipsapirone (2×20) or saline. Three brain regions rich in 5-HT_1A receptors were examined: the dorsal raphe (somatodendritic), the dorsal hippocampus (postsynaptic) and the lateral septum (postsynaptic). Only imipramine (+17%) and fluoxetine (+54%) significantly increased agonist-stimulated binding in the dorsal hippocampus; all drugs except imipramine significantly decreased binding in the dorsal raphe (−19 to −41%). These results generally support the concept of a net enhancement of hippocampal 5-HT neurotransmission via one or more 5-HT receptor subtypes. The most consistent effect, however, was a significant decrease in stimulated [³⁵S]GTPγS binding in the lateral septum after all four treatments (−14 to −23%), suggesting that this may be a heretofore unrecognized common outcome of antidepressant treatment deserving further study.     

(3)H]-8-OH-DPAT binding in the rat brain raphe area: involvement of 5-HT(1A) and non-5-HT(1A) receptors

1. The 5-HT(1A) agonist 8-OH-DPAT has been shown to have additional 5-HT uptake inhibiting properties. The present work was undertaken to examine further the binding of [(3)H]-8-OH-DPAT in the raphe area of the rat brain, a region rich in 5-HT(1A) receptors and 5-HT uptake sites. 2. 5-HT inhibited [(3)H]-8-OH-DPAT binding in a biphasic manner (pK(i1): 8.82+/-0.01, pK(i2): 6.07+/-0.05, n=4) with the low affinity site representing 36+/-4% of the total population. A biphasic inhibition curve was found also with the 5-HT(1A) antagonist, WAY 100635 (pK(i1): 8.65+/-0.17, pK(i2): 4.26+/-0.38, n=3). In the presence of 1 microM WAY 100635 to mask 5-HT(1A) receptors, 5-HT inhibited [(3)H]-8-OH-DPAT binding in a monophasic manner (pK(i): 6.04+/-0.07, n=3). 3. The affinities of various compounds for sites labelled by [(3)H]-8-OH-DPAT in the presence of 1 microM WAY 100635 and for sites labelled by [(3)H]-citalopram (a selective 5-HT uptake inhibitor) were determined. There was a significant correlation between pK(i) values at 5-HT uptake sites and at non-5HT(1A) sites labelled by [(3)H]-8-OH-DPAT (r=0.80, P<0. 001, n=17), suggesting these latter sites to be 5-HT uptake sites. 4. Whereas the affinities of R(+) and S(-) enantiomers of 8-OH-DPAT for the 5-HT uptake site are similar, R(+)8-OH-DPAT has 10 times higher affinity for the non-5-HT(1A) site than S(-)8-OH-DPAT and was considered as an outlier in the correlation. It is suggested that [(3)H]-8-OH-DPAT labels other, as yet unknown binding sites in the raphe.     

Trazodone and its active metabolite m-chlorophenylpiperazine as partial agonists at 5-HT1A receptors assessed by [35S]GTPgammaS binding

Trazodone is an effective antidepressant drug with a broad therapeutic spectrum, including anxiolytic efficacy. Although trazodone is usually referred to as a serotonin (5-HT) reuptake inhibitor, this pharmacological effect appears to be too weak to fully account for its clinical effectiveness. The present study aimed to elucidate the agonist properties of trazodone and its active metabolite, m-chlorophenylpiperazine (m-CPP), at 5-HT(1A) receptors by means of the guanosine-5'-O-(3-[(35)S]thio)-triphosphate ([(35)S]GTPgammaS) binding assay. In membranes prepared from Chinese hamster ovary cells expressing human 5-HT(1A) receptors (CHO/h5-HT(1A)), trazodone behaved as an almost full agonist and m-CPP was also a highly efficacious partial agonist at 5-HT(1A) receptors. The intrinsic activities of both compounds were higher than those of tandospirone and buspirone, which are clinically effective anxiolytics with well-known 5-HT(1A) partial agonist properties. These effects were replicated in the 5-HT(1A) receptor-mediated [(35)S]GTPgamma(S) binding assay in native rat brain membranes (at least in hippocampal membranes), although the intrinsic activities of the compounds were low and differently ranked compared to those in CHO/h5-HT(1A) cell membranes. When considering the implications of 5-HT(1A) receptors in anxiety and/or depression, as well as the clinical effectiveness of azapirone anxiolytics with partial 5-HT(1A) receptor agonist properties such as buspirone, it is possible that the agonist effects on 5-HT(1A) receptors of trazodone and its active metabolite m-CPP presented in this study contribute, at least in part, to the clinical efficacy of the atypical antidepressant trazodone.     

Treatment of cycling female rats with fluoxetine induces desensitization of hypothalamic 5-HT(1A) receptors with no change in 5-HT(2A) receptors

Although women constitute the majority of patients who receive treatment with selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) such as fluoxetine, most animal studies of SSRIs are conducted on males. The present study investigated whether long-term treatment of cycling female rats with fluoxetine alters their estrous cycle and the sensitivity of hypothalamic serotonin (5-HT) 5-HT(1A) and 5-HT(2A) receptor systems. Adult female rats received daily injections of fluoxetine (10 mg/kg, i.p.) for three consecutive estrous cycles (15.2+/-0.2 days) with the first injection beginning on metestrus (when circulating estrogen levels are low and stable). Fluoxetine did not alter basal plasma estradiol levels at metestrus, nor did it alter the pattern of estrous cyclicity. Rats treated with fluoxetine showed a loss in body weight. On the morning of metestrus of the fourth cycle (18 h after the last fluoxetine injection), the rats were injected with a sub-maximal dose of the 5-HT(1A) agonist (+/-)-8-hydroxy-2-dipropylaminotetralin (8-OH-DPAT, 50 MICRO/kg, s.c.) or a maximal dose of the 5-HT(2A) agonist [(+/-)-1-(2,5-dimethoxy-4-iodophenyl)-2-aminopropane HCl] (DOI). Plasma levels of oxytocin, ACTH and corticosterone were measured as peripheral indicators of hypothalamic 5-HT(1A) and 5-HT(2A) receptor sensitivity. Injecting 8-OH-DPAT to saline pretreated rats produced a significant increase in plasma oxytocin (299%), ACTH (1456%) and corticosterone (170%) levels but not in plasma prolactin or renin concentrations. Greater increases in plasma levels of these hormones were observed after injecting DOI. Fluoxetine treatment completely blocked the oxytocin, ACTH and corticosterone responses to 8-OH-DPAT, but did not inhibit the effect of DOI on any hormone, thus confirming that fluoxetine treatment did not produce a deficit in the functioning of corticotropin releasing hormone or oxytocin containing neurons. These results indicate that in cycling female rats, fluoxetine treatment desensitizes hypothalamic post-synaptic 5-HT(1A) receptor signaling. Understanding the pharmacological effects of fluoxetine in females may lead to more effective treatment of women with mood disorders.     

Chronic fluoxetine in tests of anxiety in rat lines selectively bred for differential 5-HT1A receptor function

Selective breeding for high and low sensitivity to the hypothermic response induced by the 5-HT1A receptor agonist 8- OH-DPAT has established two lines of rat (HDS and LDS, respectively) whose behavior differs in a model of depression and in the social interaction test of anxiety. The HDS line has a higher level of anxiety and, furthermore, does not display the usual anxiogenic response to intrahippocampal administration of 8-OH-DPAT. It was therefore hypothesized that this line of rat might be a useful model of high trait anxiety with a susceptibility to depression. We thus investigated whether chronic treatment with fluoxetine would result in an anxiolytic effect in the social interaction test in the LDS and HDS lines of rat. In both lines, acute fluoxetine (10 mg/kg) produced an anxiogenic effect in the social interaction test; when rats were tested 24 h after 14 days of fluoxetine treatment there were no anxiolytic effects in either line. In the social interaction test, chronic fluoxetine treatment did not change either the anxiogenic effect of 8-OH-DPAT (100 ng) injected bilaterally into the dorsal hippocampus in the LDS line or the lack of response in the HDS line. In the elevated plus-maze, chronic fluoxetine treatment resulted in a significant anxiogenic effect in the HDS line, but was without effect in the LDS line. Intrahippocampal 8-OH-DPAT was without effect in the plus-maze in either line. These results suggest that chronic treatment with fluoxetine did not modify the hippocampal 5-HT1A receptor in either line. The anxiogenic effects observed in the plus-maze in the HDS line after chronic fluoxetine might relate to line differences in 5-HT1A receptors in other brain regions.     

m-CPP hypolocomotion is selectively antagonized by compounds with high affinity for 5-HT(2C) receptors but not 5-HT(2A) or 5-HT(2B) receptors

The ability of m-CPP [1-(m-chlorophenyl)piperazine] to produce hypolocomotion is well documented. This effect has been postulated to be due to activation of the 5-HT(2C) receptor. It is only recently that the tools necessary to clearly delineate which serotonin receptors are involved in the mediation of m-CPP hypolocomotion have become available. We investigated the effects of the selective 5-HT(2A) antagonists, MDL 100,907 and ketanserin, the selective 5-HT(2B) antagonists, LY 202146 and LY 266097, the 5-HT(2B/2C) antagonist, SB 206553, and the selective 5-HT(2C) antagonist, SB 242084 on m-CPP-induced hypolocomotion and spontaneous locomotor activity in mice. Furthermore, we investigated the effects of the non-selective serotonin antagonists, ritanserin, LY 53857, mianserin and cyproheptadine on m-CPP hypolocomotion. Additionally, receptor-binding studies were employed as an in vitro assessment of relative affinities at the 5-HT(2A), 5-HT92B) and 5-HT(2C) receptors. Antagonists tested alone were without effect on spontaneous activity, with the sole exception of ketanserin, which decreased spontaneous activity at the high dose of 1 mg/kg. m-CPP-induced hypolocomotion was not significantly attenuated by various doses of MDL 100,907, ketanserin, LY 202146, LY 266097, ritanserin or cyproheptadine. In contrast, SB 206553, SB 242084, LY 53857 and mianserin were capable of reversing m-CPP-induced hypolocomotion. Consistent with previous suggestions, a detailed pharmacological evaluation with selective antagonists for the 5-HT2 family of receptors supports a primary role for the 5-HT(2C) receptor, and not 5-HT(2A) or 5-HT(2B) receptors, in mediating the hypolocomotion produced by m-CPP.     

Detailed pharmacological characterization of 5-HT1A-receptor-mediated [35S]GTP gamma S binding in rat hippocampal membranes

5-HT-stimulated [(35)S]GTPgammaS binding to rat hippocampal membranes was pharmacologically characterized. Signal/noise ratio or percent increase over basal was optimized with 100 microM GDP, 2-10 mM MgCl(2), and 150-200 mM NaCl. However, we preferred the standard condition (20 microM GDP, 5 mM MgCl(2), and 100 mM NaCl: Condition I) to the alternative one (100 microM GDP, 5 mM MgCl(2), and 150 mM NaCl: Condition II) because 1) absolute values of basal and 5-HT-sensitive bindings decreased with higher concentrations of GDP and NaCl; 2) EC(50) values determined under Condition II were 2 - 6 fold higher than those under Condition I; 3) some partial agonists had less intrinsic activities in the presence of higher concentrations of GDP; and 4) Inhibitory effects of WAY100635 were complete under Condition I, while incomplete under Condition II. Pharmacological profile of concentration-dependent stimulation by a series of 5-HT ligands and concentration-dependent inhibition of 5-HT-stimulated binding by several 5-HT-receptor antagonists clearly indicated that this response under Condition I was mediated solely through 5-HT(1A) receptors. Although caution should be paid especially to the apparent intrinsic activities susceptible to the assay conditions, this method appears useful to investigate functional coupling between 5-HT(1A) receptors and their coupled G proteins in native hippocampal membranes.     

S 14506: novel receptor coupling at 5-HT(1A) receptors

S 14506 is chemically related to the inverse agonist at 5-HT(1A) receptors, spiperone, but S 14506 behaves as one of the most potent agonists known at these receptors, both in vitro and in vivo. In hippocampal membranes, the specific binding of [(3)H]-S 14506 (K(d)=0.79+/-0.2 nM; B(max)=400+/-32 fmol/mg protein) to 5-HT(1A) receptors resembled that of an antagonist in that it was increased by GppNHp, whereas GppNHp reduced the binding of the classic agonist [(3)H]-8-OH-DPAT (K(d)=1.5+/-0.5 nM; B(max)=303+/-20 fmol/mg protein). Manganese, magnesium and calcium reduced the binding of [(3)H]-S 14506 to 5-HT(1A) receptors whereas the binding of [(3)H]-8-OH-DPAT was increased. Further, sodium markedly reduced the binding of [(3)H]-8-OH-DPAT, without affecting the binding of [(3)H]-S 14506. [(3)H]-S 14506 also bound with high affinity to h 5-HT(1A) receptors stably expressed in membranes of CHO cells (K(d)=0.13+/-0.05 nM; B(max)=2.99+/-0.60 pmol/mg protein): the B(max) was double that of [(3)H]-8-OH-DPAT. GppNHp strongly decreased [(3)H]-8-OH-DPAT binding but scarcely changed [(3)H]-S 14506 binding; calcium, magnesium and manganese had little effect on [(3)H]-S 14506 binding in CHO cells. Antagonists (WAY 100635, WAY 100135) and inverse agonists (spiperone and metitepine) displaced [(3)H]-S 14506 binding with high affinity and Hill slopes close to unity, whereas agonists (5-HT and 5-CT) displayed low affinity with low Hill slopes: partial agonists (buspirone, ipsapirone) showed intermediate properties. In fusion proteins of h 5-HT(1A) receptors with G(ialpha1) the compound potently increased high-affinity GTPase, with a steeper Hill slope than for 5-HT, which may indicate positive cooperativity. The maximum response for S 14506 in these assays was equivalent to 5-HT, indicating it to be a full agonist.In molecular modelling studies, using a three-site model of the 5-HT(1A) receptor, S 14506 spanned between the 5-HT recognition site and the "arginine switch" (DRY microdomain) postulated to activate the interaction of the receptor with the G protein. Thus it is possible to synthesise ligands at G-protein-coupled receptors which are highly potent agonists, but which are structurally related to inverse agonists and show some features of antagonist/inverse agonist binding.     

Electroencephalographic activation by fluoxetine in rats: role of 5-HT(1A) receptors and enhancement of concurrent acetylcholinesterase inhibitor treatment.

Considerable evidence indicates that both cholinergic (ACh) and serotonergic (5-HT) inputs to the neocortex play a direct role in maintaining the activated state of the electroencephalogram (EEG). Here, we investigated frequency-specific EEG effects of the 5-HT re-uptake inhibitor fluoxetine (10 and 20 mg/kg) to restore EEG activation abolished by combined treatment with the monoamine depletor reserpine (10 mg/kg) and the muscarinic antagonist scopolamine (1 mg/kg). Fluoxetine alone was ineffective in reversing EEG slowing produced by reserpine-scopolamine administration. However, fluoxetine suppressed EEG synchronization in the alpha (8-12 Hz) band when administered concurrently with the 5-HT(1A) receptor antagonist WAY 100635 (0.5 mg/kg). Further, fluoxetine, with and without WAY 100635, markedly potentiated the effectiveness of the acetylcholinesterase (AChE) inhibitor tacrine (5 mg/kg) to restore EEG activation between 4-30 Hz. These data indicate that 5-HT uptake inhibition and concurrent 5-HT(1A) receptor blockade produce a limited normalization of the cortical EEG after monoaminergic-cholinergic blockade. However, fluoxetine strongly potentiates the effectiveness of tacrine to restore EEG activation. Inhibitors of AChE are used to delay cognitive decline and EEG slowing in patients with Alzheimer's disease. We suggest that doses of AChE inhibitors required for these effects can be reduced by concurrent 5-HT stimulation.     

Differential effects of the novel antidepressant agomelatine (S 20098) versus fluoxetine on 5-HT1A receptors in the rat brain

Agomelatine (S 20098) is a novel antidepressant drug with melatonin receptor agonist and 5-HT(2C) receptor antagonist properties, but actual mechanisms underlying its antidepressant action are unknown. Because functional desensitization of 5-HT(1A) autoreceptors in the dorsal raphe nucleus (DRN) occurs after chronic administration of several classes of antidepressants, we investigated whether this adaptive change could also be induced by agomelatine. Neither acute nor chronic treatment with agomelatine (10 mg/kg i.p. for 14 days or 50 mg/kg i.p. for 21 days) changed the density of 5-HT(1A) receptors and their coupling with G proteins in the DRN and the hippocampus in rats. Moreover, these treatments did not affect the basal electrophysiological characteristics and the responses to 5-HT(1A) receptor stimulation of DRN and hippocampal neurons in brain slices. Parallel experiments with melatonin (10 mg/kg i.p. for 14 days) and fluoxetine (5 mg/kg i.p. for 14 days) as reference compounds showed that the former was unable to affect 5-HT(1A) receptors whereas the latter decreased both the 5-HT(1A) receptor-mediated [(35)S]GTP-gamma-S binding and the potency of ipsapirone, a 5-HT(1A) receptor agonist, to inhibit neuronal firing in the DRN. These data indicate that the antidepressant action of agomelatine is not mediated through the same mechanisms as SSRIs or tricyclics.     

Role of 5-HT(1A) and 5-HT(2) receptors of dorsal and median raphe nucleus in tolerance to morphine analgesia in rats

Several studies indicate that central serotonergic neurons have important role in morphine analgesia and tolerance. The aim of this study was to investigate possible role of 5-HT(1A) and 5-HT(2) receptors in dorsal and median raphe nucleus on development of tolerance to analgesic effect of morphine using hot plate test. Chronic injection of 5-HT(1A) receptor agonist 8-OH-DPAT (8-hydroxy-2-[di-n-propylamino]tetralin) (2, 4 and 8 mug/rat/day) to dorsal raphe nucleus (DRN) delayed tolerance to morphine analgesia, whereas injection of the same doses of 8-OH-DPAT to the median raphe nucleus (MRN) did not alter tolerance to morphine. In addition, chronic administration of ketanserin (1.5, 3 and 6 mug/rat/day), as a 5-HT(2) receptors antagonist, in DRN and MRN did not produce any significant effect. We conclude that 5-HT(1A) receptors of DRN are involved in tolerance to antinociceptive effect of morphine. However, the exact mechanism of interaction between serotonergic and opioidergic systems is not clear and remains to be elucidated.     

Opposite control mediated by central 5-HT1A and non-5-HT1A (5-HT1B or 5-HT1C) receptors on periaqueductal gray aversion

8-OH-DPAT, a selective 5-HT1A agonist, and mCPP, which has preferential affinity for 5-HT1B and 5-HT1C receptors, were studied for their effects on aversive brain stimulation in rats. Opposite effects were found with these two agonists: D, L-8-hydroxy-N,N-dipropyl-2-aminotetralin HBr (8-OH-DPAT; 0.1-1.0 mg/kg i.p.) dose dependently decreased the threshold for neurostimulation-induced escape behaviour while mCPP (0.1-1.0 mg/kg i.p.) dose dependently increased the threshold. The proaversive effect of 8-OH-DPAT and the antiaversive effect of mCPP suggest that 5-HT1A and non-5-HT1a (5-HT1B or 5-HT1C) receptors play distinct roles in mechanisms of aversion, perhaps at different locations in the CNS.     

Differential regulation of serotonin-1A receptor-stimulated [35S]GTP gamma S binding in the dorsal raphe nucleus by citalopram and escitalopram

The effect of chronic citalopram or escitalopram administration on 5-HT1A receptor function in the dorsal raphe nucleus was determined by measuring [35S]GTP gamma S binding stimulated by the 5-HT1A receptor agonist (R)-(+)-8-OH-DPAT (1nM-10 microM). Although chronic administration of citalopram or escitalopram has been shown to desensitize somatodendritic 5-HT1A autoreceptors, we found that escitalopram treatment decreased the efficacy of 5-HT1A receptors to activate G proteins, whereas citalopram treatment did not. The binding of [3H]8-OH-DPAT to the coupled, high affinity agonist state of the receptor was not altered by either treatment. Interestingly, escitalopram administration resulted in greater occupancy of serotonin transporter sites as measured by the inhibition of [3H]cyanoimipramine binding. As the binding and action of escitalopram is limited by the inactive enantiomer R-citalopram present in racemic citalopram, we propose that the regulation of 5-HT1A receptor function in the dorsal raphe nucleus at the level of receptor-G protein interaction may be a result of greater inhibition of the serotonin transporter by escitalopram.