Abstract
The role of 5-hydroxytryptamine and its receptor subtypes in the development of acute inflammation was investigated using the rat paw formalin test as a model for pain (measured by flinching behavior) and edema formation (measured by plethysmometry). The role of endogenously released 5-hydroxytryptamine was assessed using 5-hydroxytryptamine receptor subtype-selective antagonists co-injected with 2.5% formalin, while the receptor subtypes involved in the inflammatory process were further defined by co-injection of 5-hydroxytryptamine or 5-hydroxytryptamine receptor subtype-selective agonists with 0.5% formalin in anticipation of an augmented response. When co-administered with 2.5% formalin, propranolol, tropisetron or GR113808A, but not ketanserin, effectively blocked nociceptive behavior. In the presence of 0.5% formalin, 5-carboxamidotryptamine, 1-(
m-chlorophenyl) biguanide or 5-methoxytryptamine, but not (±)-1-4-(4-iodo-2,5-dimethoxyphenyl)-2-aminopropane, augmented the flinching response. These data suggest involvement of 5-hydroxytryptamine
1, 5-hydroxytryptamine
3 and 5-hydroxytryptamine
4 receptors in peripheral nociception. There may be some dissociation of nociception and edema formation, since no single 5-hydroxytryptamine receptor antagonist inhibited edema formation with 2.5% formalin; however, with 0.5% formalin, edema formation was enhanced by co-administration of 5-hydroxytryptamine, 5-carboxamidotryptamine, (±)-1-4-(4-iodo-2,5-dimethoxyphenyl)-2-aminopropane or 5-methoxytryptamine, but not 1-(
m-chlorophenyl) biguanide. These data suggest involvement of 5-hydroxytryptamine
1, 5-hydroxytryptamine
2 and possibly 5-hydroxytryptamine
4 receptors in edema formation.
These results confirm the involvement of 5-hydroxytryptamine
1 and 5-hydroxytryptamine
3 receptor subtypes in peripheral nociception associated with acute inflammation and further suggest an involvement of the more recently characterized 5-hydroxytryptamine
4 receptor in this process. There appears to be a dissociation in 5-hydroxytryptamine receptors involved in peripheral nociception and edema formation.