Attenuation of 5-HT1A and 5-HT2 but not 5-HT1C receptor mediated behaviour in rats following chronic treatment with 5-HT receptor agonists, antagonists or antidepressants

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Abstract
The effects of chronic (10 days) treatment with serotonin (5-HT) receptor agonists on 5-HT1A receptor mediated lower lip retraction (LLR), 5-HT1C receptor mediated penile erections (PE) or 5-HT2 receptor mediated head shakes (HS) were studied in rats. It was found that the 5-HT1A and 5-HT2 receptor mediated behaviour could be attenuated after chronic treatment, whereas 5-HT1C receptor mediated behaviour remained unchanged. The ED50 for the 5-HT1A receptor mediated, 8-hydroxy-2-(di-n-propylamino) tetralin (8-OH-DPAT)-induced LLR showed an increase from 0.07 mg/kg in placebo pretreated rats to 0.13 in 8-OH-DPAT (1mg/kg/day) pretreated rats. The number of 5-HT2 receptor mediated (±)-1-2,5-dimethoxy-4-iodophenyl)-2-aminopropane (DOI) (0.46 and 1 mg/kg)-induced HS was significantly reduced (67% and 50%, respectively) after 10 days' pretreatment with DOI (1 mg/kg/day). In the same animals the number of 5-HT1C receptor mediated PE was increased. Ten days' pretreatment with MK 212 (0.46 mg/kg/day) failed to affect MK 212 (0.22 and 0.46 mg/kg)-induced PE. In addition, the effects of chronic treatment with some antidepressants were studied. The monoamine oxidase (MAO) inhibitor tranylcypromine (4 mg/kg/day) given for 10 days caused an increase in the ED50 for 8-OH-DPAT induced LLR (ED50 values were 0.06 and 0.14 mg/kg, respectively, in placebo — and tranylcypromine — pretreated rats) and attenuated MK 212 (0.22 and 0.46 mg/kg)-induced PE. Chronic treatment with mianserin (10 mg/kg/day), a tetracyclic antidepressant with 5-HT1C and 5-HT2 receptor antagonistic properties, did not change PE induced by MK 212, but caused an increase of PE induced by DOI and a decrease of DOI-induced HS. Ten days' pretreatment with the 5-HT re-uptake inhibitor Org 6997 (5 mg/kg/day) had no effect on MK 212-induced PE. The results demonstrate that 5-HT1A and 5-HT2 but not 5-HT1C receptor mediated behaviour can be attenuated by chronic treatment with agonists for these receptors. The 5-HT1C receptor mediated behaviour remains unchanged in response to chronic agonist treatment. Chronic treatment with antidepressants have differential effect on these behaviours. The possible implication for the mechanism of action of antidepressants is discussed.