Wadenberg M L, Ahlenius S
Department of Behavioral Pharmacology, Astra Arcus AB, Södertälje, Sweden.
Eur J Pharmacol. 1995 Dec 27;294(1):247-51. doi: 10.1016/0014-2999(95)00535-8.
It has been shown that the administration of 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT)1A receptor agonists will antagonize the catalepsy induced by dopamine D1 or D2 receptor blocking agents. In the present study, administration of the 5-HT2A/C receptor agonist, 1-(2,5-dimethoxy-4-iodo)-2-aminopropane (DOI) (1 mg kg-1 s.c.), counteracted the catalepsy produced by the dopamine D2 receptor antagonist, raclopride (16 mg kg-1 s.c.), but not by the dopamine D1 receptor antagonist (R)-(+)-8-chloro-2,3,4,5-tetra-hydro-3-methyl-5-phenyl-1H-3-benzazepine (SCH 23390) (0.2 mg kg-1 s.c.). The effects of DOI on raclopride-induced catalepsy were fully antagonized by pretreatment with the 5-HT2A/C receptor antagonist, ritanserin (2 mg kg-1 s.c.). The 5-HT precursor, 5-hydroxytryptophan (5-HTP) (6.25-25.0 mg kg-1 i.p.), in combination with the peripheral 5-HTP decarboxylase inhibitor, benserazide (25 mg kg-1 i.p.), and the selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor, zimeldine (10 mg kg-1 s.c.), enhanced the catalepsy produced by a low dose of raclopride (4 mg kg-1 s.c.). It is concluded that stimulation of (postsynaptic) 5-HT2 receptors results in antagonism of the catalepsy induced by treatment with a dopamine D2, but not a D1, receptor antagonist. The fact that 5-HTP, in the presence of benserazide and zimeldine, enhanced raclopride-induced catalepsy suggests the possibility of postsynaptic 5-HT receptors acting in opposition to the 5-HT1 and 5-HT2 receptors, as regards extrapyramidal motor functions in the rat.