Differential effects of p-chlorophenylalanine on indoleamines in brainstem nuclei and spinal cord of rats. II. Identification of immunohistochemically stained structures using computer-assisted image enhancement techniques

Neither serotonin nor adenosine-dependent mechanisms preserve ventilatory capacity in ALS rats

In rats over-expressing SOD1G93A, ventilation is preserved despite significant loss of respiratory motor neurons. Thus, unknown forms of compensatory respiratory plasticity may offset respiratory motor neuron cell death. Although mechanisms of such compensation are unknown, other models of respiratory motor plasticity may provide a conceptual guide. Multiple cellular mechanisms give rise to phrenic motor facilitation; one mechanism requires spinal serotonin receptor and NADPH oxidase activity whereas another requires spinal adenosine receptor activation. Here, we studied whether these mechanisms contribute to compensatory respiratory plasticity in SOD1G93A rats. Using plethysmography, we assessed ventilation in end-stage SOD1G93A rats after: (1) serotonin depletion with parachlorophenylalanine (PCPA), (2) serotonin (methysergide) and A2A (MSX-3) receptor inhibition, (3) NADPH oxidase inhibition (apocynin), and (4) combined treatments. The ability to increase ventilation was not decreased by individual or combined treatments; thus, these mechanisms do not maintain breathing capacity at end-stage motor neuron disease. Possible mechanisms giving rise to enhanced breathing capacity with combined treatment in end-stage SOD1G93A rats are discussed.

Sex and regional differences in decrease of serotonin-immunoreactive cells by parachlorophenylalanine in rat raphe nuclei

To determine sex and regional differences in the properties of serotonin (5-HT) neurons of the raphe nuclei, the responsiveness to parachlorophenylalanine (PCPA) of 5-HT neurons in the dorsal and median raphe nuclei (DR and MR) and the nucleus raphe magnus (RMg) was analyzed by counting 5-HT-immunoreactive (5-HT-ir) cells. Gonadectomized male (OCX) and female (OVX) rats were treated with 100mg/kg b.wt PCPA or saline daily for 4 days. The brains were removed and fixed one day after the last injection. Frozen sections were stained with serotonin antibody and the numbers of 5-HT-ir cells in the raphe nuclei were counted. As a result, in female rats, the densities of 5-HT-ir cells in these 3 raphe nuclei were almost the same when compared the PCPA-treated and saline-treated groups. On the other hand, in male rats, the densities of 5-HT-ir cells in the DR and MR of PCPA-treated rats were lower than in saline-treated rats. In the male RMg, no difference was seen. These results suggest that responsiveness of 5-HT neurons to PCPA in the DR and MR, but not in the RMg, were sexually dimorphic.

p-Chlorophenylalanine eliminates long-term modulation of the exercise ventilatory response in goats

Repeated hypercapnic exercise augments future exercise ventilatory responses, an effect termed long-term modulation. We hypothesized that serotonin depletion with p-chlorophenylalanine (PCPA, 100mg kg(-1) i.v.) would attenuate long-term modulation. Ventilation, CO(2) production and arterial blood gases were measured at rest and during exercise (4kmh(-1), 5% grade) in goats before and after training (14 hypercapnic exercise trials). Six post-training exercise trials were performed. Trials 1-3 and 4-6 were grouped for analysis (post-training 1 and 2, respectively). Without PCPA, training exaggerated the Pa(CO(2)) decrease from rest to exercise (pre-training: 1.4+/-3mmHg; post-training 1: 3.1+/-3mmHg; post-training 2: 2.3+/-3mmHg; P<0.05), indicative of long-term modulation. The Pa(CO(2)) decrease from rest to exercise was unaffected by training following PCPA (pre-training: 1.4+/-1mmHg; post-training 1: 1.4+/-3mmHg; post-training 2: 1.1+/-5mmHg; P>0.05). Thus, PCPA abolishes long-term modulation, implicating serotonin in its underlying mechanism.

Serotonin is necessary for short-term modulation of the exercise ventilatory response

The exercise ventilatory response is augmented during conditions of increased respiratory dead space (delta Vd), a phenomenon that we refer to as short term modulation (STM). To test the hypothesis that serotonin is necessary in the mechanism underlying STM, experiments were conducted on ten awake goats. Ventilation, CO2 production and PaCO2 were measured at rest and during treadmill exercise (4 km/h, 5% grade), with and without delta Vd (0.25 L), before and after systemic administration of the serotonin receptor antagonist, methysergide maleate (n = 6; 1 mg/kg, i.v.), or the tryptophan hydroxylase inhibitor, p-chlorophenylalanine (PCPA; n = 4; 100 mg/kg, i.v.). Pre-methysergide: (1) PaCO2 decreased from rest to exercise to a similar degree with (-1.9 mmHg) and without (-1.8 mmHg) delta Vd; (2) the exercise ventilatory response increased 59% +/- 13% (P < 0.01) with delta Vd, accounting for similar exercise PaCO2 regulation and demonstrating STM; and (3) effects of delta Vd on exercise tidal volume and frequency responses were inconsistent. Post-methysergide: (1) there were no significant effects on ventilation or PaCO2 at rest or during exercise in control (mask) conditions; (2) the exercise ventilatory response was unaffected by delta Vd, thereby allowing PaCO2 to increase 4.1 +/- 3.0 mmHg from rest to exercise (P < 0.05); and (3) with delta Vd during exercise, the tidal volume response was increased, but was offset by a decreased frequency response. Following PCPA (16-24 h): (1) hyperventilation was evident at rest and during exercise; (2) the exercise ventilatory response was augmented, indicating STM; and (3) the exercise ventilatory response with delta Vd was not affected further, allowing PaCO2 to increase from rest to exercise and indicating an inability to elicit further STM. These data suggest that serotonin is necessary for short term modulation of the exercise ventilatory response with increased respiratory dead space, although the location of relevant serotonin receptors is not yet clear.

Long-lasting suppression of alcohol preference in rats following serotonin receptor blockade by ritanserin

Rats with developed preference for 3% ethanol were injected subcutaneously (SC) with 10 mg/kg of the 5HT2 antagonist ritanserin for 9 days. This resulted in a marked and significant suppression of alcohol preference, as compared to controls. The effect was very long-lasting, as shown by the fact that it was still evident up to 20 days after the end of the treatment. Since ritanserin shows some affinity also for D2-dopaminergic receptors (even though much lower than for 5HT2 receptors), for comparison, other rats were injected SC for 9 days with 0.0625 mg/kg of haloperidol or with its vehicle. The effect of haloperidol treatment was low and short-lasting. Depletion of endogenous serotonin by p-chlorophenylalanine (600 mg/kg x 3 days) completely abolished the suppression of alcohol preference by ritanserin. These results suggest that: 1) the ritanserin-induced reduction of alcohol preference is not due to dopaminergic blockade, 2) that the effect of ritanserin is completely dependent on the endogenous serotoninergic mechanisms.