EVIDENCE THAT THE SEROTONIN AGONIST, DOI, INCREASES RENIN SECRETION AND BLOOD-PRESSURE THROUGH BOTH CENTRAL AND PERIPHERAL 5-HT2 RECEPTORS

  • 1 October 1991
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 259  (1) , 58-65
Abstract
DOI [(+/-)-1-(2,5-dimethoxy-4-iodophenyl)-2-aminopropane HCI] is a serotonin (5-HT 1c/5-HT2) agonist, with potent cardiovascular effects. The purpose of the present studies was to determine the identity and location of the 5-HT receptor subtype(s) mediating the renin and blood pressure responses to DOI. Injection (i.p.) of DOI to conscious male rats elevated plasma renin activity in a dose-dependent manner. The 5-HT 1c/5-HT2 antagonist ritanserin completely blocked the DOI-induced increase in plasma renin activity. In order to distinguish the 5-HT2- from the 5-HT 1c-mediated effect of DOI, spiperone was administered before DOI. Low doses of spiperone (0.01 and 0.1 mg/kg, s.c.) significantly reduced the renin response to DOI. Because spiperone has a higher affinity for 5-HT2 than 5-HT 1c receptors, these data suggest that DOI stimulates renin secretion through 5-HT2 receptors. To separate central from peripheral 5-HT receptors, we injected DOI into rats pretreated with saline or xylamidine, a 5-HT2 antagonist which does not cross the blood-brain barrier. Xylamidine produced a shift to the right and suppression of the maximal effect of DOI on plasma renin activity, suggesting a role for peripheral 5-HT2 receptors in the effect of DOI. On the other hand, i.c.v. administration of DOI, using doses lower than the peripherally effective doses, caused a significant elevation of plasma renin activity at 200-mu-g/kg. These experiments suggest that DOI's elevation of plasma renin activity has both peripheral and central sites of action. To determine if blood pressure (BP) changes were responsible for DOI's effects, we measured BP in conscious rats through implanted femoral arterial catheters. Injection of DOI ICV at 10 and 200-mu-g/kg produced a dose-dependent rise in BP within 10 min postinjection. In contrast, intra-arterial (IA) injection of 200-mu-g/kg DOI caused a slower (15 min postinjection) and lower BP rise. Heart rate was significantly reduced after i.c.v. but not IA injection of DOI (200-mu-g/kg). The increase in plasma renin concentration after i.c.v. injection of DOI (200-mu-g/kg) was significantly higher than the corresponding value after IA injection of the same dose of DOI. To summarize, these data suggest that DOI increases renin secretion and BP by activating both peripheral and brain 5-HT2 receptors.