Effect of 5-HT(2A) receptor antagonists on blood flow in the carotid vessels upon elevation of serotonin level.

We studied the ability of predominantly 5-HT2A receptor antagonists to prevent a serotonin-induced change of blood flow in the carotid vessels of rats with experimental serotonin-induced spasm. Ritanserin, ketanserin, and 5-HT2A receptor antagonist RU-476 reduced the effect of serotonin on the blood fl ow velocity in the internal carotid artery by 2.3, 1.7, and 2.6 times, respectively.