5-HT1A and 5-HT2 receptors differentially regulate the excitability of 5-HT-containing neurones of the guinea pig dorsal raphe nucleus in vitro.

We have used intracellular recording techniques to examine the effects of 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT, serotonin) on 5-HT-containing neurones of the guinea pig dorsal raphe nucleus in vitro. Bath-applied 5-HT (30-300 microM) had two opposing effects on the membrane excitability of these cells, reflecting the activation of distinct 5-HT receptor subtypes. As demonstrated previously in the rat, 5-HT evoked a hyperpolarization and inhibition of 5-HT neurones, which appeared to involve the activation of an inwardly rectifying K(+) conductance. This hyperpolarizing response was blocked by the 5-HT(1A) receptor-selective antagonist WAY-100635 (30-100 nM). In the presence of WAY-100635, 5-HT induced a previously unreported depolarizing, excitatory response of these cells, which was often associated with an increase in the apparent input resistance of the neurone, likely due to the suppression of a K(+) conductance. Like the hyperpolarizing response to 5-HT, this depolarization could be recorded in the presence of the Na(+) channel blocker tetrodotoxin. In addition, the response was not significantly attenuated by the alpha(1)-adrenoceptor antagonist prazosin (500 nM), indicating that it is not due to the release of noradrenaline, or to the direct activation of alpha(1)-adrenoceptors by 5-HT. The 5-HT(3) receptor antagonist granisetron (1 microM) and the 5-HT(4) receptor antagonist SB 204070 (100 nM) failed to reduce the depolarizing response to 5-HT; however, ketanserin (100 nM), mesulergine (100 nM) and lysergic acid diethylamide (1 microM) significantly reduced or abolished the depolarization, indicating that this effect of 5-HT is mediated by 5-HT(2) receptors.

Chlormethiazole inhibits epileptiform activity by potentiating GABA(A) receptor function.

Chlormethiazole has sedative, hypnotic, anticonvulsant and neuroprotective properties. Using in vitro grease-gap recordings, we show that it inhibits epileptiform activity in neocortical slices superfused with Mg(2+)-free medium (IC(50) approximately 200 microM). At an antiepileptic concentration (300 microM), chlormethiazole potentiated the action of exogenously applied GABA (1 mM) but did not affect responses to the glutamate receptor agonists N-methyl-D-aspartate (10 microM) or L-quisqualic acid (3 microM). The GABA(A) receptor antagonist N-methyl-bicuculline (50 microM) reduced chlormethiazole's potency to inhibit the epileptiform activity. These results indicate that chlormethiazole's anticonvulsant action is likely mediated by potentiating GABA(A)ergic inhibition rather than by antagonising glutamatergic excitation.

Modulation of gamma-aminobutyric acid responses in the rat optic nerve.

Depolarising GABA(A) receptor-mediated responses recorded from the optic nerve using a grease gap technique were modulated by classical potentiators of GABA(A) receptors. The benzodiazepine, chlordiazepoxide, the barbiturate, pentobarbitone and the widely used anaesthetic, propofol, all potentiated gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) responses. They did so with different maximal efficacies, propofol>pentobarbitone>chlordiazepoxide, and potencies on the basis of EC(50) estimates, chlordiazepoxide>propofol>pentobarbitone. The greater than expected GABA potentiating properties of propofol were explained by a direct hyperpolarising action that occurred in the same concentration range as its action at the GABA(A) receptor but that was unlikely to be mediated by GABA(A) receptors.

Actions of 5-HT on human neocortical neurones in vitro.

Using intracellular recordings, we have studied the action of 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) on slices of human temporal, occipital and frontal cortex maintained in vitro. The recordings were usually made 1.2 to 1.5 mm down from the pial surface, in or around layer III. The action of 5-HT (30-50 microM) was studied on 21 cells (from 12 individuals) which had electrophysiological characteristics of glutamatergic pyramidal neurones. 5-HT depolarised the majority (11) of these cells with a median response of 5 mV. It produced a hyperpolarising response in five neurones (median=-4 mV) and a combined hyperpolarising/depolarising response in two others. No response was detected in three cells. The depolarising response was probably mediated by reducing a resting potassium conductance. Ketanserin (0.1 and 1.0 microM) and spiperone (1 microM) reduced the response indicating that it was likely mediated by 5-HT2A receptors. The hyperpolarising response was associated with the opening of ion channels and was blocked by the selective 5-HT1A receptor antagonist WAY-100635 (100 nM). 5-HT inhibited spontaneous synaptic potentials. This effect was reduced by ketanserin (1 microM) but not by WAY-100635 (100 nM). It is concluded that human neocortical neurones in vitro can be depolarised via 5-HT2A receptors and hyperpolarised via 5-HT1A receptors.

Differential effects of electroconvulsive shock on the glutamate receptor mRNAs for NR2A, NR2B and mGluR5b.

We have studied the effects of single and repeated electroconvulsive shock (ECS) treatment on the mRNA levels of several glutamate receptors in the dentate gyrus and CA1 regions of the rat brain. In the dentate gyrus, such treatment elevated the mRNAs for the NMDA subunits NR2A and NR2B, but it reduced the mRNA for the metabotropic glutamate receptor mGlu5b. With the exception of NR2A, this effect was specific to the dentate gyrus. The changes in NR2B mRNA lasted the longest, but all changes had returned to control values after 48 h. The possible significance of such changes to the antidepressant effect of ECT is discussed.

Cortical spreading depression induces an LTP-like effect in rat neocortex in vitro.

We have developed an in vitro model of spreading depression (SD) in rat neocortex. KCl application induced a propagating wave of SD associated with a change of optical lucency and an extracellular negative wave. Both of these were abolished by aminophosphonovaleric acid (100 microM), indicating SD's mediation by NMDA receptors. SD abolished synaptically-mediated field potentials in layer II and this depression was followed by a previously undescribed, sustained LTP-like enhancement of transmission.

BDNF enhances neuronal growth and synaptic activity in hippocampal cell cultures.

Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) (20 ng/ml) significantly enhanced the growth of the somata of GABA-immunoreactive neurones in primary cultures of hippocampal neurones from postnatal rats after only 24h. Whole-cell patch-clamp experiments showed an increase in spontaneous synaptic activity between neurones with time in culture. After 10 days in culture, 90% of neurones sampled in control cultures showed spontaneous synaptic activity, whereas in cultures treated with BDNF, 100% of neurones had synaptic inputs after only 6 days. This difference in spontaneous activity was not due to the lack of synaptic inputs as KCl-induced synaptic activity was equally effective in BDNF and control cultures. These experiments demonstrate the rapid rate at which BDNF can promote neuronal growth and also show that BDNF can promote long term synaptic activity.

Measurement of the secretion of technetium-99m hexamethylpropylene amine oxime into breast milk.

There are no published data for the activity of technetium-99m hexamethylpropylene amine oxime (99mTc-HMPAO) found in breast milk. The amount of radioactivity in breast milk following the administration of 500 MBq 99mTc-HMPAO for a brain perfusion study has been measured. The effective dose to the infant was calculated to be 0.26 mSv, so necessitating no interruption of breast feeding. Unbound 99mTc is readily secreted into breast milk and the effective dose will remain less than 1 mSv if the 99mTc-HMPAO labelling efficiency is >/=99% for the worse reported case, and could remain <1 mSv for the mean reported case for 99mTc-HMPAO labelling efficiencies down to 94%.

Characterisation of human 5-hydroxytryptamine2A and 5-hydroxytryptamine2C receptors expressed in the human neuroblastoma cell line SH-SY5Y: comparative stimulation by hallucinogenic drugs.

Stable transfection of the human neuroblastoma cell line SH-SY5Y with the human 5-hydroxytryptamine2A (5-HT2A) or 5-HT2C receptor cDNA produced cell lines demonstrating ligand affinities that correlated closely with those for the corresponding endogenous receptors in human frontal cortex and choroid plexus, respectively. Stimulation of the recombinant receptors by 5-HT induced phosphoinositide hydrolysis with higher potency but lower efficacy at the 5-HT2C receptor (pEC50 = 7.80 +/- 0.06) compared with the 5-HT2A receptor (pEC50 = 7.30 +/- 0.08). Activation of the 5-HT2A receptor caused a transient fourfold increase in intracellular Ca2+ concentration. Whole-cell recordings of cells clamped at -50 mV demonstrated a small inward current (2 pA) in response to 10 microM 5-HT for both receptors. There were no differences in potency or efficacy of phosphoinositide hydrolysis among four hallucinogenic [d-lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD), 1-(4-iodo-2,5-dimethoxyphenyl)-2-aminopropane (DOI), 5-methoxy-N,N-dimethyltryptamine, and mescaline] and three nonhallucinogenic drugs (m-chlorophenylpiperazine, quipazine, and ergotamine). Comparison of equipotent doses producing 20% of the maximal response induced by 5-HT revealed selective activation of the 5-HT2A receptor by LSD and to a lesser degree by DOI, mescaline, and ergotamine. Quipazine and 5-methoxy-N,N-dimethyltryptamine were relatively nonselective, whereas m-chlorophenylpiperazine selectively activated the 5-HT2C receptor. It is unlikely therefore that hallucinosis is mediated primarily by activity at the 5-HT2C receptor, whereas activity at the 5-HT2A receptor may represent an important but not unique mechanism associated with hallucinogenic drug action.

5-HT2B receptor mRNA in guinea pig superior cervical ganglion.

Primers for 5-HT2A, 5-HT2B and 5-HT2C receptor mRNAs were used in reverse transcriptase-linked polymerase chain reactions (RT-PCR) to determine the presence of these transcripts in the guinea pig superior cervical ganglion. This was done to help identify an as yet unknown 5-HT2-like receptor which, in addition to 5-HT2A receptors, mediates a slow depolarization of this preparation. PCR products corresponding to 5-HT2A and 5-HT2B, but not 5-HT2C, receptor mRNA could readily be detected. Subsequent sequence analysis of these products confirmed that the 5-HT2A band corresponded to part of the guinea pig 5-HT2A receptor and the 5-HT2B band probably represents a portion of the guinea pig 5-HT2B receptor. The latter sequence shares greater homology with an equivalent region of the human than the rat 5-HT2B receptor.

Intracellular recordings from burst-firing presumed serotonergic neurones in the rat dorsal raphe nucleus in vivo.

Here we report the existence of burst-firing neurones in the rat dorsal raphe as detected in vivo using intracellular electrophysiological techniques. These neurones discharged single action potentials and doublets or triplets of action potentials in a slow and regular pattern. The apparent input resistance, action potential width and firing threshold of these burst-firing raphe neurones were indistinguishable from classical 5-HT neurones. Spike doublets were evoked by depolarising DC currents, but only in burst-firing neurones. These findings provide further evidence to support the hypothesis that 5-HT neurones (or a sub-set of them) are capable of burst-firing activity.

Electrophysiological consequences of ligand binding to the desensitized 5-HT3 receptor in mammalian NG108-15 cells.

1. Using the whole-cell variation of the patch-clamp technique to record from mammalian NG108-15 cells, we have studied the ligand-gated ion channel current activated by a high concentration (100 microM) of local pressure-applied 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT). The response was induced at intervals of at least 90-120 s, which allowed the receptor to fully recover between activations. 2. The rapid inward current induced by pressure-applied 5-HT was reproducibly inhibited by the superfusion of low concentrations of 5-HT which evoked little or no detectable inward current alone (0.01-0.3 microM). This inhibitory effect was most likely to be due to a direct action on the 5-HT3 receptor as it could be recorded using intracellular solutions with or without adenosine triphosphate (ATP) and guanosine triphosphate (GTP). 3. The maximum inhibitory effect of a given concentration of 5-HT was not dependent on its superfusion time but on the number of activations of the receptor by pressure-applied 5-HT. This activation dependence was clearly evident, since the first inward current in the presence of 0.1 microM 5-HT was often unaffected in amplitude. 4. The inhibitory effect of 5-HT was evident at holding potentials of +60 and -60 mV; with the calcium chelator BAPTA in the recording pipette and with the nominal removal of extracellular calcium and magnesium ions. 5. The inhibitory effect was concentration dependent, with 50% inhibition of the inward current amplitude occurring at approximately 50 nM 5-HT. The slope factor of the inhibition curve was 1.3. The effect was mimicked by two other 5-HT3 receptor agonists, 2-methyl-5-HT and m-chlorophenylbiguanide (mCPBG) which gave 50% inhibition at approximately 600 nM and approximately 20 nM, respectively. These values are similar to the affinity values for these ligands determined in radioligand binding assays. 6. The 5-HT3 receptor "antagonists' (+)-tubocurarine and quipazine (both at 3 nM) reduced the inward current amplitude by approximately 50%. The rate of onset of the inhibitory effect of bath-applied 5-HT was slowed in the presence of (+)-tubocurarine but not in the presence of quipazine. This difference might be explained by the agonist properties seen only with quipazine. 7. The inhibition of the 5-HT3 receptor mediated inward current by low concentrations of bath-applied 5-HT3 receptor agonists is compatible with the cyclic model of receptor activation and desensitization. We conclude that we have been studying the high-affinity binding of agonists to the desensitized form of the 5-HT3 receptor.

Multiple 5-HT receptors in the guinea-pig superior cervical ganglion.

1. We have studied the pharmacology of the depolarization by 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) of the guinea-pig isolated superior cervical ganglion (SCG) using the grease-gap technique. We studied the effects of selective and non-selective antagonists on the responses to 5-HT and other 5-HT receptor agonists. 2. We have extended the pharmacology of the 5-HT3 receptor in this preparation by studying the effects of granisetron, BRL 46470 and mianserin on the concentration-response curve (CRC) to 2-methyl-5-HT. As with other 5-HT3 receptor antagonists, these compounds exhibited a lower affinity for guinea-pig 5-HT3 receptors than for rat 5-HT3 receptors. 3. We have confirmed that low concentrations of 5-HT (< or = 1 microM) mediate ketanserin-sensitive responses and higher concentrations of 5-HT also recruit 5-HT3 receptors. The responses to low concentrations of 5-HT were antagonized by low concentrations of ketanserin, spiperone, mianserin, DOI and LSD indicating probably mediation by 5-HT2A receptors. At high concentrations, the hallucinogen, DOI, but not LSD, evoked a ketanserin-sensitive depolarization. 4. Although mianserin could bind to the 5-HT2A receptors in this preparation, we could not demonstrate a down-regulation of depolarizations evoked by these receptors after a 10 day oral treatment with mianserin (10 mg kg-1, daily). 5. 5-Carboxamidotryptamine (5-CT) evoked a prolonged depolarization. Although high concentrations of 5-CT (> or = microM) appeared to activate 5-HT2A receptors, lower concentrations of 5-CT evoked a response with a distinct pharmacology. After studying the action of 20 selective and non-selective 5-HT receptor ligands we believe that this response may be mediated by a novel receptor; but its pharmacology is closest to that of receptors in the 5-HT2 receptor family. Like 5-CT, 5-HT (3-300 microM) could evoke an LSD-sensitive response in the presence of the 5-HT2 receptor antagonist, ketanserin and the 5-HT3 receptor antagonist, tropisetron (all 1 microM). 6. We conclude that 5-HT activates three pharmacologically distinct receptors to depolarize the guinea-pig SCG. Low concentrations of 5-HT appear to activate 5-HT2A receptors. Higher concentrations of 5-HT also activate 5-HT3 receptors and a possible novel 5-HT receptor. The novel receptor could be a species homologue of a 5-HT2 receptor or an, as yet, unclassified 5-HT receptor.

Characterization of the 5-hydroxytryptamine2A receptor-activated cascade in rat C6 glioma cells.

We have investigated the identity and intracellular cascade of responses resulting from activation of the endogenous 5-hydroxytryptamine receptor in the C6 rat glioma cell line. Sequence analysis of reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction products derived from C6 glioma cell messenger RNA revealed complete homology with a portion of the rat 5-hydroxytryptamine2A receptor. The binding of [3H]ketanserin to cell membranes demonstrated a significant correlation with the 5-hydroxytryptamine2A receptor in rat frontal cortex. On intact cells, 5-hydroxytryptamine stimulated a concentration-dependent increase in phosphatidyl inositide turnover and intracellular [Ca2+] mediated by 5-hydroxytryptamine2A receptors. In whole-cell patch-clamp recordings, 5-hydroxytryptamine induced an outward current mediated predominantly by K+ ions (reversal potential = -80 mV). Using caged molecules containing Ca2+ or inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate in the patch electrode solution, we found that rapid photolytic release of Ca2+ and particularly inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate within the cytosol induced an outward current with characteristics similar to those seen after application of 5-hydroxytryptamine. Comparison between differentiated and undifferentiated cells revealed significantly higher receptor density and maximal phosphoinositide response to 5-hydroxytryptamine in undifferentiated cells but the associated rise in [Ca2+]i and activation of an outward current was observed more frequently in differentiated cells. Prolonged exposure of the cells to 5-hydroxytryptamine led to a decrease in all responses and to the down-regulation of receptor number. We conclude that the rat C6 glioma cell expresses a 5-hydroxytryptamine2A receptor identical to that found in rat brain and that stimulation of the receptor in C6 cells leads to the activation of Ca2+ activated K+ channels via phosphoinositide hydrolysis and subsequent rise in cytosolic Ca2+ ion concentration. However, the contrasting effects of differentiation on receptor number and phosphoinositide response to 5-hydroxytryptamine compared to Ca2+ release and conductance change indicate that a complex relationship exists between the component parts of the receptor-activated cascade.

Action of adenosine receptor antagonists on hypoxia-induced effects in the rat hippocampus in vitro.

1. We have studied three hypoxia-induced phenomena in the CA1 stratum pyramidale of the rat hippocampal slice: (a) the increase in extracellular potassium ion concentration ([K+]e) measured with ion-sensitive microelectrodes, (b) the intracellularly-recorded pyramidal cell hyperpolarization and (c) the extracellularly-recorded depression of the synaptically-evoked field potential recorded in stratum pyramidale. 2. The extracellular potassium ion concentration ([K+]e) rose from 3 mM to 4.1-4.4 mM at a time when the pyramidal cells hyperpolarized by about 6 mV and neurotransmission was virtually abolished. 3. Presumed glial cells depolarized in response to hypoxia. The shape and time course of this response was remarkably similar to the rise in [K+]e so induced. This is consistent with findings that glial cell membrane potential is dependent on transmembrane K+ gradient. 4. We investigated the effects of theophylline (100 microM) and 1,3-dipropyl-8-cyclopentylxanthine (DPCPX, 0.1 microM) on these effects. We have found that these compounds attenuated by about half the hypoxia-induced increase in [K+]e; however, they did not reduce the hypoxia-induced hyperpolarization. We have confirmed that they dramatically reduced the suppression of excitatory transmission caused by the hypoxia. We conclude that adenosine A1 receptors may be involved in the alteration of K+ homeostasis in the hippocampal slice during hypoxia.

5-HT2A receptor-mediated outward current in C6 glioma cells is mimicked by intracellular IP3 release.

The C6 glioma cell line possesses 5-HT2A receptors that have been shown to increase intracellular calcium levels. We have studied the electrophysiological response of these cells to 5-HT using the whole-cell recording method. Under voltage-clamp, 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) produced an outward current in these cells which was inhibited by extracellularly applied ketanserin and spiperone and by EGTA (10 mM) in the recording electrode. The 5-HT induced response could be mimicked by intracellular photolytic release of inositol (1,4,5) trisphosphate (IP3) from caged molecules. The reversal potentials for the IP3- and 5-HT-induced responses were closely matched. The data indicates that the outward current is likely to be mediated by 5-HT2A receptors stimulating IP3 production which increases intracellular calcium leading to the opening of calcium-activated potassium channels.

Stereoselective interaction of mianserin with 5-HT3 receptors.

The interaction of the enantiomers of mianserin with the 5-HT3 receptor was determined. Using [3H]granisetron binding, (-)-mianserin was more potent than (+)-mianserin (pKi 8.46 and 6.95, respectively). The enantiomers competitively antagonized the depolarizing effect of 5-hydroxytryptamine in the rat vagus nerve preparation (pKapp: (-)-mianserin 8.13, (+)-mianserin 6.58). This stereoselectivity was maintained in-vivo as determined using ex-vivo inhibition of [3H]granisetron binding. Therefore, in contrast to its enantiomeric selectivity for the 5-HT1C and 5-HT2 receptors, where the (+)-isomer is more potent, the enantiomeric selectivity of mianserin for the 5-HT3 receptor was reversed. This differential selectivity of the enantiomers of mianserin may be useful in elucidating its utility in anxiety states.

BRL 46470 potently antagonizes neural responses activated by 5-HT3 receptors.

The effect of a novel 5-HT3 receptor antagonist, BRL 46470, has been studied on two electrophysiological models for 5-HT3 receptors: grease-gap recordings from rat isolated vagus nerve and whole-cell patch-clamp recordings from mouse neuroblastoma-rat glioma NG108-15 cells. Its action on the rat vagus nerve was compared to that of four other 5-HT3 receptor antagonists. On the rat vagus, BRL 46470 reduced the maximum depolarizing response to 5-HT in a concentration-dependent manner with an IC50 of 0.3-1.0 nM, but the EC50 for 5-HT was not appreciably affected. This action was similar to that of granisetron and ICS 205-930, but differed from that of GR38032F and (+)-tubocurarine which produced clear rightward shifts of the concentration-response curve to 5-HT. The 5-HT-induced fast inward current of voltage-clamped NG108-15 cells was also antagonized by 1 nM BRL 46470 in an insurmountable manner. In contrast to (+)-tubocurarine, the action of BRL 46470 on the rat vagus nerve and NG108-15 cells did not readily reverse on washing with antagonist-free medium. It is concluded that BRL 46470 is a potent, insurmountable 5-HT3 receptor antagonist on the rat vagus and NG108-15 cells.

L-689,660, a novel cholinomimetic with functional selectivity for M1 and M3 muscarinic receptors.

1. L-689,660, 1-azabicyclo[2.2.2]octane, 3-(6-chloropyrazinyl)maleate, a novel cholinomimetic, demonstrated high affinity binding (pKD (apparent) 7.42) at rat cerebral cortex muscarinic receptors. L-689,660 had a low ratio (34) of pKD (apparent) values for the displacement of binding of the antagonist ([3H]-N-methylscopolamine ([3H]-NMS) compared with the displacement of the agonist [3H]-oxotremorine-M ([3H]-Oxo-M), in rat cerebral cortex. Low NMS/Oxo-M ratios have been shown previously to be a characteristic of compounds that are low efficacy partial agonists with respect to stimulation of phosphatidyl inositol turnover in the cerebral cortex. 2. L-689,660 showed no muscarinic receptor subtype selectivity in radioligand binding assays but showed functional selectivity in pharmacological assays. At M1 muscarinic receptors in the rat superior cervical ganglion, L-689,660 was a potent (pEC50 7.3 +/- 0.2) full agonist in comparison with (+/-)-muscarine. At M3 receptors in the guinea-pig ileum myenteric plexus-longitudinal muscle or in trachea, L-689,660 was again a potent agonist (pEC50 7.5 +/- 0.2 and 7.7 +/- 0.3 respectively) but had a lower maximum response than carbachol. In contrast L-689,660 was an antagonist at M2 receptors in guinea-pig atria (pA2 7.2 (95% confidence limits 7, 7.4)) and at muscarinic autoreceptors in rat hippocampal slices. 3. The putative M1-selective muscarinic agonist, AF102B (cis-2-methylspiro-(1,3-oxathiolane 5,3')-quinuclidine hydrochloride) was found to have a profile similar to L-689,660 but had up to 100 times less affinity in binding and functional assays.RS-86 (2-ethyl-8-methyl-2,8-diazospiro[4,5]decan 1,3-dionehydrochloride) also had lower affinity than L-689,660, and had no binding selectivity for muscarinic receptor subtypes. RS-86 had a higher NMS/Oxo-M ratio than L-689,660 and was a full agonist at MI,M2 and M3 receptors in the functional pharmacological assays.4. The functional selectivity of L-689,660 in muscarinic pharmacological assays is consistent with the effects of a low efficacy partial agonist in tissues with different effective receptor reserves.