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Renal vasculature, which is highly innervated by sympathetic fibers, contributes to cardiovascular homeostasis. This renal sympathetic outflow is inhibited by 5-HT in normoglycaemic rats. Considering that diabetes induces cardiovascular complications, we aimed to determine whether diabetic state modifies noradrenergic input at renal level and its serotonergic modulation in rats. Alloxan diabetic rats were anaesthetized (pentobarbital; 60 mg/kg i.p.) and prepared for in situ autoperfusion of the left kidney to continuously measure systemic blood pressure (SBP), heart rate (HR), and renal perfusion pressure (RPP). Electrical stimulation of renal sympathetic outflow induces frequency-dependent increases (Δ) in RPP (23.9 ± 2.1, 59.5 ± 1.9, and 80.5 ± 3.5 mm Hg at 2, 4, and 6 Hz, respectively), which were higher than in normoglycaemic rats, without modifying HR or SBP. Intraarterial bolus of 5-HT and 5-CT (5-HT1/5/7 agonist) reduced electrically induced ΔRPP. Only L-694,247 (5-HT1D agonist) reproduced 5-CT inhibition on sympathetic-induced vasoconstrictions, whereas it did not modify exogenous noradrenaline-induced ΔRPP. 5-CT inhibition was exclusively abolished by i.v. bolus of LY310762 (5-HT1D antagonist). An inhibitor of guanylyl cyclase, ODQ (i.v.), completely reversed the L-694,247 inhibitory effect. In conclusion, diabetes induces an enhancement in sympathetic-induced vasopressor responses at the renal level. Prejunctional 5-HT1D receptors, via the nitric oxide pathway, inhibit noradrenergic-induced vasoconstrictions in diabetic rats. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The dopaminergic system influences the heart rhythm by inhibiting the rat cardiac sympathetic and parasympathetic neurotransmissions through activation of D2-like receptors (encompassing the D2, D3, and D4 subtypes). Whereas D2 receptor subtype activation results in cardiac sympatho-inhibition, the dopamine receptor subtypes involved in rat cardiac vago-inhibition remain unknown. Hence, this study investigated the specific functional role of the D2-like receptor subtypes (D2, D3, and/or D4) inhibiting the rat heart cholinergic drive. For this purpose, male Wistar rats were pithed and prepared for cardiac vagal stimulation. Bradycardic responses were obtained by electrical stimulation of vagal fibres (3, 6, 9 Hz; n = 100) or i.v. acetylcholine (ACh; 1, 5, 10 μg/kg; n = 15). Expression of D2, D3, and D4 receptors was studied in left and right atrium samples by PCR (n = 4). Intravenous injections of quinpirole (D2-like agonist; 1–30 μg/kg), but not of SFK-38393 (D1-like agonist; 1–30 μg/kg), dose-dependently inhibited the vagally induced bradycardia. The vago-inhibition induced by quinpirole (which failed to affect the bradycardia to i.v. ACh) was unchanged after i.v. injections of the antagonists L-741,626 (D2; 100 μg/kg) or SB-277011-A (D3; 100 μg/kg), but it was abolished by L-745,870 (D4; 100 μg/kg). mRNA levels of D2, D3, and D4 receptor subtype were detected in the left and right rat atria. Our results suggest that the quinpirole-induced vagolytic effect involves prejunctional D4 receptor subtypes, located in the left and right atria. This provides new evidence on the relevance of D4 receptor modulating the heart parasympathetic control. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Our group has previously shown in pithed rats that the cardiac sympathetic drive, which produces tachycardic responses, is inhibited by 5‐HT via the activation of prejunctional 5‐HT1B/1D/5 receptors. Interestingly, when 5‐HT2 receptors are chronically blocked with sarpogrelate, the additional role of cardiac sympatho‐inhibitory 5‐HT1F receptors is unmasked. Although 5‐HT2 receptors mediate tachycardia in rats, and the chronic blockade of 5‐HT2 receptors unmasked 5‐HT7 receptors mediating cardiac vagal inhibition, the role of 5‐HT7 receptors in the modulation of the cardiac sympathetic tone remains virtually unexplored. On this basis, male Wistar rats were pretreated during 14 days with sarpogrelate (a 5‐HT2 receptor antagonist) in drinking water (30 mg/kg/day; sarpogrelate‐pretreated group) or equivalent volumes of drinking water (control group). Subsequently, the rats were pithed to produce increases in heart rate by either electrical preganglionic spinal (C7‐T1) stimulation of the cardiac sympathetic drive or iv administration of exogenous noradrenaline. The iv continuous infusion of AS‐19 (a 5‐HT7 receptor agonist; 10 µg/kg/min) (i) inhibited the tachycardic responses to sympathetic stimulation, but not those to exogenous noradrenaline only in sarpogrelate‐pretreated rats. This inhibition was completely reversed by SB258719 (a selective 5‐HT7 receptor antagonist; 1 mg/kg, iv) or glibenclamide (an ATP‐sensitive K+ channel blocker; 20 mg/kg, iv). These results suggest that chronic 5‐HT2 receptor blockade uncovers a cardiac sympatho‐inhibitory mechanism mediated by 5‐HT7 receptors, involving a hyperpolarization due to the opening of ATP‐sensitive K+ channels. Thus, these findings support the role of 5‐HT7 receptors in the modulation of the cardiac sympathetic neurotransmission. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

5-hydroxytryptamine (5- HT) modulates noradrenergic activity in different cardiovascular territories, but its effect on the mesenteric vasopressor outflow has not yet been clarified. This study investigated the in vivo serotonergic influence, characterizing 5- HT receptors implicated, in sympathetic innervation of mesenteric vasculature. Wistar rats were anaesthetised and prepared for the in situ autoperfused rat mesentery, monitoring systemic blood pressure ( SBP), heart rate ( HR) and mesenteric perfusion pressure ( MPP). Electrical stimulation of mesenteric sympathetic nerves resulted in frequency-dependent increases in MPP (9 ± 1.6, 25.7 ± 3.9 and 60.2 ± 5 mmHg for 2, 4 and 8 Hz, respectively), without altering SBP or HR. 5- HT (1-25 μg/kg), 5-carboxamidotryptamine (5- HT1/7 agonist; 25 μg/kg) or L-694,247 (5-HT1D agonist; 1-25 μg/kg) i.a. bolus inhibited vasopressor responses by mesenteric nerves electrical stimulation, unlike i.a. bolus of agonists 8- OH- DPAT (5- HT1A), CGS-12066B (5- HT1B), BRL 54443 (5- HT1e/1F), α-methyl-5- HT (5- HT2), 1- PBG (5- HT3), cisapride (5- HT4) or AS-19 (5- HT7) (25 μg/kg each). Interestingly, i.a. L-694,247 (25 μg/kg) also reduced the exogenous norepinephrine-induced vasoconstrictions. Pretreatment with selective 5- HT1D receptor antagonist, LY310762 (1 mg/kg, i.v.), completely abolished L-694,247- and 5- HT-induced mesenteric sympathoinhibition. Furthermore, ELISA analysis confirmed 5- HT1D receptors expression in mesenteric artery. These findings suggest that serotonergic mechanisms-induced sympathoinhibition of mesenteric noradrenergic outflow is mediated by pre and/or postjunctional 5- HT1D receptors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

5-HT inhibits cardiac sympathetic neurotransmission in normoglycaemic rats, via 5-HT1B, 5-HT1D and 5-HT5A receptor activation. Since type 1 diabetes impairs the cardiac sympathetic innervation leading to cardiopathies, this study aimed to investigate whether the serotonergic influence on cardiac noradrenergic control is altered in type 1 diabetic rats. Diabetes was induced in male Wistar rats by streptozotocin (50 mg/kg, i.p.). Four weeks later, the rats were anaesthetized, pithed and prepared for producing tachycardic responses by electrical preganglionic stimulation (C7-T1) of the cardioaccelerator sympathetic outflow or i.v. noradrenaline bolus injections. Immunohistochemistry was performed to study 5-HT1B, 5-HT1D and 5-HT5A receptor expression in the stellate ganglion from normoglycaemic and diabetic rats. In the diabetic group, i) i.v. continuous infusions of 5-HT induced a cardiac sympatho-inhibition that was mimicked by the 5-HT1/5A agonist 5-carboxamidotryptamine (without modifying noradrenaline-induced tachycardia), but not by the agonists indorenate (5-HT1A), CP 93,129 (5-HT1B), PNU 142633 (5-HT1D), or LY344864 (5-HT1F); ii) SB 699551 (5-HT5A antagonist; i.v.) completely reversed 5-CT-induced cardiac sympatho-inhibition; and iii) 5-HT5A receptors were more expressed in the stellate ganglion compared to normoglycaemic rats. These results show the prominent role of the peripheral 5-HT5A receptors prejunctionally inhibiting the cardiac sympathetic drive in type 1 diabetic rats. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Our group has previously shown in pithed rats that the cardiac sympathetic drive, which produces tachycardic responses, is inhibited by 5-HT via the activation of prejunctional 5-HT 1B/1D/5 receptors. Interestingly, when 5-HT 2 receptors are chronically blocked with sarpogrelate, the additional role of cardiac sympatho-inhibitory 5-HT 1F receptors is unmasked. Although 5-HT 2 receptors mediate tachycardia in rats, and the chronic blockade of 5-HT 2 receptors unmasked 5-HT 7 receptors mediating cardiac vagal inhibition, the role of 5-HT 7 receptors in the modulation of the cardiac sympathetic tone remains virtually unexplored. On this basis, male Wistar rats were pretreated during 14 days with sarpogrelate (a 5-HT 2 receptor antagonist) in drinking water (30 mg/kg/day; sarpogrelate-pretreated group) or equivalent volumes of drinking water (control group). Subsequently, the rats were pithed to produce increases in heart rate by either electrical preganglionic spinal (C 7 -T 1 ) stimulation of the cardiac sympathetic drive or iv administration of exogenous noradrenaline. The iv continuous infusion of AS-19 (a 5-HT 7 receptor agonist; 10 µg/kg/min) (i) inhibited the tachycardic responses to sympathetic stimulation, but not those to exogenous noradrenaline only in sarpogrelate-pretreated rats. This inhibition was completely reversed by SB258719 (a selective 5-HT 7 receptor antagonist; 1 mg/kg, iv) or glibenclamide (an ATP-sensitive K + channel blocker; 20 mg/kg, iv). These results suggest that chronic 5-HT 2 receptor blockade uncovers a cardiac sympatho-inhibitory mechanism mediated by 5-HT 7 receptors, involving a hyperpolarization due to the opening of ATP-sensitive K + channels. Thus, these findings support the role of 5-HT 7 receptors in the modulation of the cardiac sympathetic neurotransmission., (© 2019 John Wiley & Sons Australia, Ltd.)

Although depression and cardiovascular diseases are related, the role of antidepressants such as fluoxetine (increasing serotonin levels) within cardiac regulation remains unclear. We aimed to determine whether fluoxetine modifies the pharmacological profile of serotonergic influence on vagal cardiac outflow. Rats were treated with fluoxetine (10 mg/kg per day; p.o.) for 14 days or equivalent volumes of drinking water (control group); then, they were pithed and prepared for vagal stimulation. Bradycardic responses were obtained by electrical stimulation of the vagal fibers (3, 6, and 9 Hz) or i.v. acetylcholine (ACh; 1, 5, and 10 μg/kg). The i.v. administration of 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT; 10 and 50 μg/kg) inhibited the vagally induced bradycardia. 5-CT (5-HT 1/7 agonist) and L-694,247 (5-HT 1D agonist) mimicked the serotonin inhibitory effect while α-methyl-5-HT (5-HT 2 agonist) was devoid of any action. SB269970 (5-HT 7 antagonist) did not abolish 5-CT inhibitory action on the electrically induced bradycardia. Pretreatment with LY310762 (5-HT 1D antagonist) blocked the effects induced by L-694,247 and 5-CT. 5-HT and 5-CT failed to modify the bradycardia induced by exogenous ACh. Our outcomes suggest that fluoxetine treatment modifies 5-HT modulation on heart parasympathetic neurotransmission in rats, evoking inhibition of the bradycardia via prejunctional 5-HT 1D in pithed rats.

5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) modulates noradrenergic activity in different cardiovascular territories, but its effect on the mesenteric vasopressor outflow has not yet been clarified. This study investigated the in vivo serotonergic influence, characterizing 5-HT receptors implicated, in sympathetic innervation of mesenteric vasculature. Wistar rats were anaesthetised and prepared for the in situ autoperfused rat mesentery, monitoring systemic blood pressure (SBP), heart rate (HR) and mesenteric perfusion pressure (MPP). Electrical stimulation of mesenteric sympathetic nerves resulted in frequency-dependent increases in MPP (9 ± 1.6, 25.7 ± 3.9 and 60.2 ± 5 mmHg for 2, 4 and 8 Hz, respectively), without altering SBP or HR. 5-HT (1-25 μg/kg), 5-carboxamidotryptamine (5-HT 1/7 agonist; 25 μg/kg) or L-694,247 (5-HT 1D agonist; 1-25 μg/kg) i.a. bolus inhibited vasopressor responses by mesenteric nerves electrical stimulation, unlike i.a. bolus of agonists 8-OH-DPAT (5-HT 1A ), CGS-12066B (5-HT 1B ), BRL 54443 (5-HT 1e/1F ), α-methyl-5-HT (5-HT 2 ), 1-PBG (5-HT 3 ), cisapride (5-HT 4 ) or AS-19 (5-HT 7 ) (25 μg/kg each). Interestingly, i.a. L-694,247 (25 μg/kg) also reduced the exogenous norepinephrine-induced vasoconstrictions. Pretreatment with selective 5-HT 1D receptor antagonist, LY310762 (1 mg/kg, i.v.), completely abolished L-694,247- and 5-HT-induced mesenteric sympathoinhibition. Furthermore, ELISA analysis confirmed 5-HT 1D receptors expression in mesenteric artery. These findings suggest that serotonergic mechanisms-induced sympathoinhibition of mesenteric noradrenergic outflow is mediated by pre and/or postjunctional 5-HT 1D receptors., (© 2017 John Wiley & Sons Australia, Ltd.)