ISSN:
1435-1463
Keywords:
Serotonin
;
nociception
;
tail-flick
;
hot-plate
;
metitepin
;
serotonin depletion
;
tolerance
;
mice
Source:
Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
Topics:
Medicine
Notes:
Summary The putative serotonin (5-HT) receptor antagonist metitepin (0.5 mg/ kg, intraperitoneally) produced hypoalgesia in the increasing temperature hot-plate test and hyperalgesia in the tail-flick test in mice. The effects of metitepin were not altered after depletion of 5-HT by the neurotoxin 5,7-dihydroxytryptamine (5, 7-DHT, 80 Μg free base, intracerebroventricularly) or the serotonin synthesis inhibitor p-chlorophenylalanine (PCPA, 400 mg/kg for 10 consecutive days). After chronic administration (2 or 5 mg/kg for 18 consecutive days) tolerance to the effect of metitepin (0.5 mg/kg) and cross-tolerance to the antinociceptive effect of the 5-HT agonist 5-methoxy-N,N-dimethyltryptamine (5-MeODMT, 3 mg/kg) was found in the hot-plate test but not in the tail-flick test. It is suggested that metitepin may block descending 5-HT transmission while more complex mechanisms of action are involved at supraspinal level. One possibility is that metitepin exhibits partial agonist properties or, alternatively, that the drug may block 5-HT subsystems which tonically enhance nociception.
Type of Medium:
Electronic Resource
URL:
http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/BF01244620
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