Inhibition of the constitutive activity of human 5‐HT1A receptors by the inverse agonist, spiperone but not the neutral antagonist, WAY 100,635

Abstract
At recombinant human 5‐hydroxytryptamine (5‐HT)5‐HT1A receptors expressed in Chinese hamster ovary cells (CHO‐5‐HT1A), 5‐carboxamidotryptamine (5‐CT), acted as a full agonist (relative to 5‐HT=100%) for stimulation of receptor‐mediated [35S]‐GTPγS (guanylyl 5′‐[γ‐thio]‐tryphosphate) binding. In contrast, spiperone inhibited basal [35S]‐GTPγS binding by 30.2% (IC50=55.5 nm) in CHO‐5‐HT1A membranes but not in control untransfected membranes. The antagonist, N‐{2‐[4‐(2‐methoxyphenyl)‐1‐piperazinyl]ethyl}‐N‐(2‐pyridinyl)‐cyclohexane‐carboxamide (WAY 100,635), blocked both 5‐CT‐induced stimulation and spiperone‐induced inhibition of [35S]‐GTPγS binding without itself modifying [35S]‐GTPγS binding. It is concluded that, in this heterologous expression system, 5‐HT1A receptors display ‘constitutive’ activation of G‐proteins and that spiperone displays inverse agonist activity whereas WAY 100,635 acts as a ‘neutral’ antagonist at this site.British Journal of Pharmacology (1997) 120, 737–739; doi:10.1038/sj.bjp.0701025