The rat 5-hydroxytryptamine1B receptor is the species homologue of the human 5-hydroxytryptamine1D beta receptor.

The relationship between the serotonin 5-hydroxytryptamine1B (5-HT1B) and 5-HT1D receptors has been the topic of much investigation and speculation since their complementary species distribution was first appreciated. The cloning of genes encoding 5-HT1D receptors has provided tools to investigate this relationship directly. In this study, a rat gene has been cloned that encodes the rat 5-HT1B receptor. Evaluation of the structure of this gene shows that it is a member of the guanine nucleotide-binding protein-coupled receptor superfamily. Comparison of the amino acid sequence of the rat gene with the human 5-HT1D beta gene showed a 93% overall identity and a 96% identity in the transmembrane regions. Comparison of the two sequences revealed zero to two amino acid changes in each of these transmembrane regions, as well as a striking conservation in the connecting loops, indicative of the relationship expected for species homologues of the same gene. The rat gene was expressed transiently in COS-7 cells, and membranes derived from these cells were shown to bind [125I]iodocyanopindolol. The pharmacological profile of this binding site closely matched that of the native rat 5-HT1B receptor (r = 0.95) but not the 5-HT1D receptor (r = 0.07). The cloned rat 5-HT1B receptor was found to couple to the inhibition of adenylate cyclase activity, as expected for a 5-HT1B receptor. These data indicate that, although the 5-HT1B and 5-HT1D receptors are pharmacologically distinct, they are species variants of the same receptor gene, the 5-HT1D beta gene.     

Investigation of the association between 5-HT3A receptor gene polymorphisms and efficiency of antiemetic treatment with 5-HT3 receptor antagonists

OBJECTIVES: Acute cytostatic drug induced nausea and vomiting is provoked by a release of endogenous serotonin that mediates its effect by binding to the 5-hydroxytryptamine type 3 (5-HT3) receptors. The most effective antiemetic drugs are the 5-HT3 receptor antagonists. Nevertheless about 30% of the patients do not respond satisfactorily. Five 5-HT3 receptor genes (5-HT(3A-E)) with high sequence homology have been identified. Two subunits, the 5-HT3A and 5-HT3B are expressed in anatomical structures known to be involved in the mechanism of acute cytostatic drug induced emesis. METHODS: We included 242 cancer patients at their first day of chemotherapy to investigate the influence of genetic polymorphisms of the 5-HT3A receptor gene on the intensity of nausea and vomiting which was documented using standardized interviews and visual analog scales. RESULTS: Sequencing of the entire 5-HT3A receptor gene of all patients revealed 21 polymorphisms, two of them were amino acid substitutions (Ala33Thr, Met257Ile). Linkage disequilibrium analysis revealed that 15 polymorphisms of the 5-HT3A receptor gene are partially linked to each other. However, none of the haplotypes was significantly associated with the intensity of cytostatic induced nausea and vomiting. CONCLUSION: Polymorphisms and haplotype analysis of the 5-HT3A receptor gene may not serve as a pharmacogenetic predictor of the antiemetic treatment with 5-HT3 receptor antagonists in cancer patients.     

5-HT及5-HT3受体在慢性结石性胆囊炎胆囊中的表达

目的 探讨5-羟色胺(5-HT)及5羟色胺3受体(5-HLR)在慢性结石性胆囊炎发病机理中的作用。方法 应用免疫组织化学技术(SP法)检测30例慢性结石性胆囊炎、15例正常对照胆囊组织中5-HT含量及5-HT3受体表达的变化。结果 5HT含量在慢性结石性胆囊炎胆囊粘膜层中高于对照组(P＜0．05),在平滑肌层中无差别。5-HT3受体在慢性结石性胆囊炎平滑肌层中表达低于对照组(P＜0．05)。结论 5-HT及5-HT受体在慢性结石性胆囊炎形成中有一定作用。     

The GABA(A) receptor antagonist picrotoxin inhibits 5-hydroxytryptamine type 3A receptors

For a number of years it has been known that the CNS convulsant picrotoxin inhibits the GABA(A) receptor, an anion-selective member of the ligand-gated ion channel (LGIC) superfamily. PTX also inhibits other anion-selective LGIC members, such as GABA(C), glycine and glutamate-gated Cl(-) channels. In the present report, we tested the ability of picrotoxin to inhibit cation-selective 5-HT(3A) receptors. Murine 5-HT(3A) receptors were expressed in HEK293 cells, and functionally evaluated using whole-cell patch clamp recording. Picrotoxin inhibited 5-HT-gated currents in a concentration-dependent manner, with an IC(50) of approximately 30 microM. Moreover, the blockade by PTX was non-competitive and use-facilitated. Pentylenetetrazole and U-93631, ligands that act at a domain similar to that of picrotoxin in GABA(A) receptors, also inhibited the 5-HT(3A) receptor. For each ligand tested, its potency was 5-10 fold lower than typically observed in GABA(A) receptors. Our results demonstrate that, in addition to being a relatively non-selective inhibitor of anionic LGICs, picrotoxin also inhibits the cation-selective 5-HT(3A) receptor. Moreover, the fact that both PTZ and U-93631 similarly inhibit the 5-HT(3A) receptor is consistent with the suggestion that the site of picrotoxin action in this receptor may be comparable to that in anion-selective LGICs.     

Angiotensin II type 2 receptor gene polymorphisms and essential hypertension

AIM: To identify the genetic variants of angiotensin II type 2 receptor (AT2R) gene in a Chinese population and to determine whether the AT2R gene polymorphisms are associated with essential hypertension (EH). METHODS: The detection of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) was performed in 19 subjects by a direct DNA sequencing. Two hundred fifty patients with EH and 250 nomortensive controls were included in the study to assess the contribution of polymorphism of AT2R gene to hypertension. RESULTS: We identified 9 SNPs in the promoter, intron, exons and 3' untranslated region (3'UTR) of AT2R gene; among them 5 SNPs were novel molecular variants. A case-control study using a most frequent SNP (1334T/C) in the promoter region, showed a significant increase in allele frequency of C1334 in male hypertensive subjects (17.5 % vs 10.3 % for normotensive subjects, P<0.05). CONCLUSION: The catalogue of SNPs of AT2R gene in Chinese population showed ethnic difference in DNA sequence variation. A polymorphism in the promoter region (1334T/C) of AT2R gene might be involved in the development of hypertension in Chinese population.     

Three-dimensional steric molecular modeling of the 5-hydroxytryptamine3 receptor pharmacophore

A computer-based three-dimensional steric molecular model of the 5-hydroxytryptamine3 (5-HT3) receptor pharmacophore was defined on the basis of radioligand binding data. Analysis of published data led to the identification of 19 different chemical structures that share only a single known pharmacological property, i.e., less than 10 nM affinity for the 5-HT3 receptor. These 19 compounds were then categorized into seven chemical families, which derive from six main steric "core" structures. From the composite analysis of all 19 potent agents, nine steric chemical criteria were derived, which can be used to describe the 5-HT3 receptor pharmacophore. This information was then used to explain the 5-HT3 receptor inactivity of atrophine, a compound that differs structurally from ICS 205-930 in the steric properties of only a single key atom. The steric chemical information was also used to predict the activity of serotonergic compounds that had never been analyzed at 5-HT3 receptor binding sites. Two serotonergic drugs that meet all nine steric criteria were found to be active at the 5-HT3 receptor binding site (i.e., pizotifen, KI = 42 +/- 10 nM, and clozapine, KI = 52 +/- 8 nM). By contrast, two serotonergic agents that do not meet the criteria were found to be inactive at the 5-HT3 receptor binding site (i.e., ipsapirone and pirenperone, KI values greater than 1000 nM). This computer-based steric molecular modeling approach allows for the analysis and identification of 5-HT3 receptor-active agents with minimal dependence upon animals and radioactive compounds.     

Evidence for more than one type of 5-hydroxytryptamine receptor in the human colon

The actions of methysergide, a 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) antagonist, have been examined on muscle strips taken from the circular and longitudinal layers of the human colon. Relaxations of the longitudinal muscle to 5-HT were antagonized by concentrations of methysergide known to be selective. Relaxations of the circular muscle to 5-HT were unaffected by similar concentrations of methysergide. Responses of both types of muscle to 5-HT were partially reduced by tetrodotoxin. Furthermore there was evidence for 5-HT receptors in circular colonic muscle which were unaffected either by selective concentrations of methysergide or tetrodotoxin.     

Humanization of mouse 5-hydroxytryptamine1B receptor gene by homologous recombination: in vitro and in vivo characterization.

We replaced the coding region of the murine 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT)1B receptor by the human 5-HT1B receptor using homologous recombination in embryonic stem cells and generated and characterized homozygous transgenic mice that express only the human (h) 5-HT1B receptor. The distribution patterns of h5-HT1B and murine (m) 5-HT1B receptor mRNA and binding sites in brain sections of transgenic and wild-type mice were identical as measured by in situ hybridization histochemistry and radioligand receptor autoradiography. When measured in parallel under identical conditions, the h5-HT1B receptor expressed in mouse brain had the same pharmacological characteristics as that in human brain. Stimulation by 5-HT1B agonists of [35S]guanosine-5'-O-(3-thio)triphosphate binding in brain sections demonstrated the functional coupling of the h5-HT1B receptor to G proteins in mouse brain. In tissue slices from various brain regions, electrically stimulated [3H]5-HT release was not modified by 5-HT1B agonists in tissue from either transgenic and wild-type mice; a 5-HT1B antagonist enhanced electrically stimulated [3H]5-HT release in wild-type mouse brain, but was ineffective in the transgenics. The centrally active 5-HT1A/5-HT1B agonist RU24969 induced hypothermia but did not increase locomotor activity in the transgenic mice. The ineffectiveness of RU24969 in the transgenic mice could be due to the lower affinity of the compound for the h5-HT1B receptor compared with the m5-HT1B receptor. The present study demonstrates a complete replacement of the mouse receptor by its human receptor homolog and a functional coupling to G proteins. However, modulation of [3H]5-HT release could not be shown. Furthermore, behavioral effects were not clearly observed, which may be due to a lack of appropriate tools.     

Quantitative molecular analysis predicts 5-hydroxytryptamine3 receptor binding affinity

A quantitative molecular model was derived to predict drug affinities for 5-hydroxytryptamine3 (5-HT3) receptors. The model was based on the molecular characteristics of a "learning set" of 40 pharmacological agents that had been analyzed previously in radioligand binding studies. Molecules were analyzed for various structural features, i.e., the presence of a benzenoid ring and nitrogen atom, substitutions on the benzenoid ring, the location of the substitutions on the nitrogen, and the molecular characteristics of the most direct pathway from the benzenoid ring to the nitrogen. Weighting factors, based on published 5-HT3 receptor affinity data, were then assigned to each of 10 molecular characteristics. The derived computational model predicts accurately the affinities of the learning set for the 5-HT3 receptor (r = 0.98; p less than 0.001). The computational model was then used to predict the receptor affinities of a "test set" of 40 pharmacological agents. The predicted values for these agents also correlate significantly (r = 0.83; p less than 0.001) with drug affinities for the 5-HT3 receptor, as determined by radioligand binding assays. This first line screening approach allows for the accurate prediction of drug affinities based on molecular characteristics with minimal dependence upon animal tissues or radioactivity.     

Potent 5-hydroxytryptamine3 receptor antagonist activity of RG 12915

RG 12915, N-(1-azabicyclo[2.2.2.]octan-3(S)-yl)-2-chloro-(5aS, 9aS)-5a,6,7,8,9,9a-hexahydrodibenzofuran-4-carboxamide, a potent antiemetic agent active in reducing emesis produced by antieoplastic agents, was examined in tests of 5-hydroxytryptamine₃ (5-HT₃) receptor blockade. RG 12915 was found to be a potent antagonist of 5-HT₃ receptor activation both in blocking 5-HT-induced contractions of guinea-pig ileum and in blocking the Bezold-Jarisch effect in the rat. Compared to several other 5-HT₃ antagonists, RG 12915 had a greater pA2 value (11.2) for blocking 5-HT-induced contractions of guinea pig ileum than zacopride (8.3); BRL 43694 (granisetron) (9.1); and GR 38032F (ondansetron) (7.4). Falls in heart rate due to 5-HT₃ receptor activation following intravenous (i.v.) administration of 5-HT (the Bezold-Jarisch effect) were also potently reduced by RG 12915. Minimum effective dose (MED) levels (in parentheses), defined as the lowest dose at which each compound produced a significant reduction in the Bezold-Jarisch effect, were determined for RG 12915 (1.0μg/kg, i.v.); zacopride (3.0); granisetron (9.0); and ondansetron (27.0). The order of potency in blocking 5-HT₃ receptor activation was generally the same as the order of potency in 5-HT₃ receptor binding. RG 12915 had a lower K_i value (0.17±0.02 nM, mean ± SEM) in binding studies using ³H-GR-65630 as the ligand in rat entorhinal cortex tissue than either zacopride (1.5±0.4); granisetron (1.7±0.3); or ondansetron (6.2±2.1). RG 12915 was also found active in blocking contractions of guinea pig ileum and the Bezold-Jarisch effect induced by the somewhat selective 5-HT₃ receptor agonist 2-methyl-secrotonin. The results support the idea that this orally active antiemetic agent is a potent antagonist of 5HT₃ receptor activation. © 1993 Wiley-Liss, Inc.     

[3H]Rauwolscine: an antagonist radioligand for the cloned human 5-hydroxytryptamine2B (5-HT2B) receptor

In previous reports, [³H]5-HT has been used to characterize the pharmacology of the rat and human 5-HT_2B receptors. 5-HT, the native agonist for the 5-HT_2B receptor, has a limitation in its usefulness as a radioligand since it is difficult to study the agonist low-affinity state of a G protein-coupled receptor using an agonist radioligand. When using [³H]5-HT as a radioligand, rauwolscine was determined to have relatively high affinity for the human receptor (K_i human = 14.3 ± 1.2 nM, compared to K_i rat = 35.8 ± 3.8 nM). Since no known high affinity antagonist was available as a radioligand, these studies were performed to characterize [³H]rauwolscine as a radioligand for the cloned human 5-HT_2B receptor expressed in AV12 cells. When [³H]rauwolscine was initially tested for its usefulness as a radioligand, complex competition curves were obtained. After testing several α₂-adrenergic ligands, it was determined that there was a component of [³H]rauwolscine binding in the AV12 cell that was due to the presence of an endogenous α₂-adrenergic receptor. The α₂-adrenergic ligand efaroxan was found to block [³H]rauwolscine binding to the α₂-adrenergic receptor without significantly affecting binding to the 5-HT_2B receptor and was therefore included in all subsequent studies. In saturation studies at 37° C, [³H]rauwolscine labeled a single population of binding sites, K_d = 3.75 ± 0.23 nM. In simultaneous experiments using identical tissue samples, [³H]rauwolscine labeled 783 ± 10 fmol of 5-HT_2B receptors/mg of protein, as compared to 733 ± 14 fmol of 5-HT_2B receptors/mg of protein for [³H]5-HT binding. At 0° C, where the conditions for [³H]5-HT binding should label mostly the agonist high affinity state of the human 5-HT_2B receptor, [³H]rauwolscine (B_max = 951 ± 136 fmol/ mg), again labeled significantly more receptors than [³H]5-HT (B_max = 615 ± 34 fmol/mg). The affinity of [³H]rauwolscine for the human 5-HT_2B receptor at 0° C did not change, K_d = 4.93 ± 1.27 nM, while that for [³H]5-HT increased greatly (K_d at 37° C = 7.76 ± 1.06 nM; K_d at 0° C = 0.0735 ± 0.0081 nM). When using [³H]rauwolscine as the radioligand, competition curves for antagonist structures modeled to a single binding site, while agonist competition typically resulted in curves that best fit a two site binding model. In addition, many of the compounds with antagonist structures displayed higher affinity for the 5-HT_2B receptor when [³H]rauwolscine was the radioligand. Typically, ∼ 85% of [³H]rauwolscine binding was specific binding. These studies display the usefulness of [³H]rauwolscine as an antagonist radioligand for the cloned human 5-HT_2B receptor. This should provide a good tool for the study of both the agonist high- and low-affinity states of the human cloned 5-HT_2B receptor. Received: 26 June 1997 / Accepted: 30 August 1997     

Evidence for more than one type of 5-hydroxytryptamine receptor in the human colon.

The actions of methysergide, a 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) antagonist, have been examined on muscle strips taken from the circular and longitudinal layers of the human colon. Relaxations of the longitudinal muscle to 5-HT were antagonized by concentrations of methysergide known to be selective. Relaxations of the circular muscle to 5-HT were unaffected by similar concentrations of methysergide. Responses of both types of muscle to 5-HT were partially reduced by tetrodotoxin. Furthermore there was evidence for 5-HT receptors in circular colonic muscle which were unaffected either by selective concentrations of methysergide or tetrodotoxin.     

The anxiolytic-like effects of 5-hydroxytryptamine3 (5-HT3) receptor antagonists.

The effect of six 5-HT3 receptor antagonists: ondansetron (0.01-3 mg/kg ip), granisetron (0.01-1 mg/kg ip), zacopride (0.01-3 mg/kg ip), tropisetron (0.001-0.1 mg/kg ip), MDL 72222 (0.01-3 mg/kg ip) and DAU 6215 (0.01-3 mg/kg sc) were examined in the conflict drinking test (Vogel test) and in the elevated plus-maze test in rats. Ondansetron (0.1-0.3 or 1 mg/kg), zacopride (0.1-1 mg/kg) and tropisetron (0.01 mg/kg) increased the punished responding in the Vogel test and showed anxiolytic effects in the elevated plus-maze test. Their effects were limited to a narrow dose range and were not dose-dependent. Granisetron (0.1 mg/kg) exhibited an anti-conflict activity, but was ineffective in the elevated plus-maze test. MDL 72222 and DAU 6215 were ineffective in both those tests. On the other hand, diazepam (2.5-10 mg/kg), used as a reference drug, was active in either procedure and its effects were dose-dependent. These results indicate that an anxiolytic-like activity is not a common characteristic of 5-HT3 receptor antagonists. Moreover, even the anxiolytic action of drugs which were active in the experimental models used should be accepted with caution.     

5-Hydroxytryptamine-induced tachycardia in the pig: possible involvement of a new type of 5-hydroxytryptamine receptor.

1. The mechanism of 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT)-induced tachycardia is species-dependent and is mediated directly or indirectly either by '5-HT1-like' (cat), 5-HT2 (rat, dog) or 5-HT3 (rabbit) receptors, or by an action similar to tyramine (guinea-pig). The present investigation is devoted to the analysis of the positive chronotropic effect of 5-HT in the pentobarbitone-anaesthetized pig. 2. Intravenous bolus injections of 5-HT (3, 10 and 30 micrograms kg-1) in pigs resulted in dose-dependent increases in heart rate of 24 +/- 2, 38 +/- 3 and 51 +/- 3 beats min-1, respectively (n = 39). Topical application of a high concentration of 5-HT (150 micrograms kg-1 in 5 ml) on the right atrium was also followed by tachycardia (38 +/- 6 beats min-1, n = 4). 3. A number of drugs which antagonize responses mediated by different 5-HT receptors--phenoxybenzamine, methiothepin, metergoline, methysergide and mesulergine ('5-HT1-like' and 5-HT2 receptors), ketanserin, cyproheptadine, pizotifen and mianserin (5-HT2 receptors), and MDL 72222 and ICS 205-930 (5-HT3 receptors)--did not attenuate the chronotropic responses to 5-HT. 4. The 5-HT-induced tachycardia was also not affected by antagonists at alpha- and beta-adrenoceptors, muscarinic, nicotinic, histamine and dopamine receptors, and calcium channels. 5. Selective inhibitors of 5-HT-uptake, indalpine and fluvoxamine, themselves increased porcine heart rate and facilitated 5-HT-induced tachycardia both in magnitude and in duration.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Clinical evaluation of antiemetic effects of 5-hydroxytryptamine receptor type 3 (5HT3 receptor) antagonists based on changes in eating condition in cancer patients receiving chemotherapy

To evaluate the antiemetic effects of 5-HT(3) receptor antagonists, we investigated the relationship between condition of food intake and occurrence of nausea and vomiting. We collected data such as sex, age, disease, combination of steroids and central antiemetic agents, eating condition, and vomiting condition from medical records in 33 hematologic cancer patients receiving chemotherapy; combination with 5-HT(3) receptor antagonists. The conditions of food intake and nausea/vomiting were checked at 4 mealtime points (lunch, supper, breakfast, and next lunch) after chemotherapy, and were recorded as 1, 3, or 5 as each condition score. To calculate eating scores and nausea/vomiting scores, the sum of scores from 4 mealtime points was used. We found a significant negative correlation between eating scores and nausea/ vomiting scores (n=62, p<0.01). At eating points in which combination therapy with steroids and central antiemetic agents was not given, antiemetic effects of granisetron, azasetron and ramosetron were compared and revealed that azasetron was the most effective antiemetic agent. This result is in agreement with our previous study predicting antiemetic effects of 5-HT(3) receptor antagonists based on the receptor occupancy theory. This study suggests that eithes receptor occupancy or eating score is a useful indicator for assessment of the efficacy of 5-HT(3) receptor antagonists.     

Identification and importance of N-glycosylation of the human 5-hydroxytryptamine3A receptor subunit

We investigated the presence and potential role of N-glycosylation of the human (h) 5-hydroxytryptamine3 (5-HT3A) receptor subunit expressed in COS-7 cells. Incubation of cells with the N-glycosylation inhibitor, tunicamycin, reduced the molecular weight of the predominant immunoreactive h5-HT3A subunit species (from approximately 59 to 45 kDa) indicating that the h5-HT3A subunit is normally N-glycosylated. Site-directed mutagenesis studies individually substituting four identified N-terminal asparagines (N5, N81, N147, N163) demonstrated that each expressed mutant displayed a reduced molecular weight (by approximately 3 kDa) suggesting that each asparagine residue was subject to N-glycosylation. In addition, 5-HT3 receptor binding studies indicated that prevention of N-glycosylation, by individual amino acid substitution at each of the four asparagine residues, either prevented (N81, N147, N163) or greatly reduced (N5) the production of a 5-HT3 receptor binding site. Corresponding with the radioligand binding studies, immunocytochemical studies demonstrated that substitution of each asparagine either prevented (N81, N147, N163) or reduced considerably (N5) mutant protein expression within the cell membrane. The present study demonstrates an important role for N-glycosylation at multiple identified asparagine residues in the N-terminus of the h5-HT3A receptor subunit.     

5-hydroxytryptamine interaction with the nicotinic acetylcholine receptor

The present study examines the interaction of the neurotransmitter 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) with muscle-type nicotinic acetylcholine receptors. 5-HT inhibits the initial rate of [125I]alpha-bungarotoxin binding to Torpedo acetylcholine receptor membranes (IC(50)=8.5+/-0.32 mM) and [3H]5-HT can be photoincorporated into acetylcholine receptor subunits, with labeling of the alpha-subunit inhibitable by both agonists and competitive antagonists. Within the agonist-binding domain, [3H]5-HT photoincorporates into alphaTyr(190), alphaCys(192) and alphaCys(193). Functional studies using the human clonal cell line TE671/RD, show that 5-HT is a weak inhibitor (IC(50)=1.55+/-0.25 mM) of acetylcholine receptor activity. In this regard, agonist-response profiles in the absence and presence of 5-HT indicate a noncompetitive mode of inhibition. In addition, 5-HT displaces high affinity [3H]thienylcyclohexylpiperidine binding to the desensitized Torpedo acetylcholine receptor channel (IC(50)=1.61+/-0.07 mM). Collectively, these results indicate that 5-HT interacts weakly with the agonist recognition site and inhibits receptor function noncompetitively by binding to the acetylcholine receptor channel.     

Pharmacological characterization of a rat 5-hydroxytryptamine type3 receptor subunit (r5-HT3A(b)) expressed in Xenopus laevis oocytes

1. The present study has utilized the two electrode voltage-clamp technique to examine the pharmacological profile of a splice variant of the rat orthologue of the 5-hydroxytryptamine type 3A subunit (5-HT_3A(b)) heterologously expressed in Xenopus laevis oocytes.
2. At negative holding potentials, bath applied 5-HT (300 nM–10 μM) evoked a transient, concentration-dependent (EC₅₀=1.1±0.1 μM), inward current. The response reversed in sign at a holding potential of −2.1±1.6 mV.
3. The response to 5-HT was mimicked by the 5-HT₃ receptor selective agonists 2-methyl-5-HT (EC₅₀=4.1±0.2 μM), 1-phenylbiguanide (EC₅₀=3.0±0.1 μM), 3-chlorophenylbiguanide (EC₅₀=140± 10 nM), 3,5-dichlorophenylbiguanide (EC₅₀=14.5±0.4 nM) and 2,5-dichlorophenylbiguanide (EC₅₀= 10.2±0.6 nM). With the exception of 2-methyl-5-HT, all of the agonists tested elicited maximal current responses comparable to those produced by a saturating concentration (10 μM) of 5-HT.
4. Responses evoked by 5-HT at EC₅₀ were blocked by the 5-HT₃ receptor selective antagonist ondansetron (IC₅₀=231±22 pM) and by the less selective agents (+)-tubocurarine (IC₅₀=31.9± 0.01 nM) and cocaine (IC₅₀=2.1±0.2 μM).
5. The data are discussed in the context of results previously obtained with the human and mouse orthologues of the 5-HT_3A subunit. Overall, the study reinforces the conclusion that species differences detected for native 5-HT₃ receptors extend to, and appear largely explained by, differences in the properties of homo-oligomeric receptors formed from 5-HT_3A subunit orthologues.