Response to 5-hydroxytryptamine on neurons of guinea pig celiac and inferior mesenteric ganglia in primary culture

Multiple 5-HT receptors in the guinea-pig superior cervical ganglion

1. We have studied the pharmacology of the depolarization by 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) of the guinea-pig isolated superior cervical ganglion (SCG) using the grease-gap technique. We studied the effects of selective and non-selective antagonists on the responses to 5-HT and other 5-HT receptor agonists. 2. We have extended the pharmacology of the 5-HT3 receptor in this preparation by studying the effects of granisetron, BRL 46470 and mianserin on the concentration-response curve (CRC) to 2-methyl-5-HT. As with other 5-HT3 receptor antagonists, these compounds exhibited a lower affinity for guinea-pig 5-HT3 receptors than for rat 5-HT3 receptors. 3. We have confirmed that low concentrations of 5-HT (< or = 1 microM) mediate ketanserin-sensitive responses and higher concentrations of 5-HT also recruit 5-HT3 receptors. The responses to low concentrations of 5-HT were antagonized by low concentrations of ketanserin, spiperone, mianserin, DOI and LSD indicating probably mediation by 5-HT2A receptors. At high concentrations, the hallucinogen, DOI, but not LSD, evoked a ketanserin-sensitive depolarization. 4. Although mianserin could bind to the 5-HT2A receptors in this preparation, we could not demonstrate a down-regulation of depolarizations evoked by these receptors after a 10 day oral treatment with mianserin (10 mg kg-1, daily). 5. 5-Carboxamidotryptamine (5-CT) evoked a prolonged depolarization. Although high concentrations of 5-CT (> or = microM) appeared to activate 5-HT2A receptors, lower concentrations of 5-CT evoked a response with a distinct pharmacology. After studying the action of 20 selective and non-selective 5-HT receptor ligands we believe that this response may be mediated by a novel receptor; but its pharmacology is closest to that of receptors in the 5-HT2 receptor family. Like 5-CT, 5-HT (3-300 microM) could evoke an LSD-sensitive response in the presence of the 5-HT2 receptor antagonist, ketanserin and the 5-HT3 receptor antagonist, tropisetron (all 1 microM). 6. We conclude that 5-HT activates three pharmacologically distinct receptors to depolarize the guinea-pig SCG. Low concentrations of 5-HT appear to activate 5-HT2A receptors. Higher concentrations of 5-HT also activate 5-HT3 receptors and a possible novel 5-HT receptor. The novel receptor could be a species homologue of a 5-HT2 receptor or an, as yet, unclassified 5-HT receptor.

Neurotransmitter properties of guinea-pig sympathetic neurons grown in dissociated cell culture--I. Adult neurons

The autonomic nervous system of mammals displays extensive neurotransmitter diversity. The guinea-pig sympathetic nervous system has served as a model for in vivo studies of neurotransmitter co-expression. We have developed methods for the dissociation and long-term culture of adult guinea-pig prevertebral sympathetic ganglia. The neurotransmitter properties of cultured adult guinea-pig sympathetic neurons from the celiac and superior mesenteric ganglia were examined. Cultured principal neurons were found to display many of their in vivo neurotransmitter characteristics, including catecholamine-specific histofluorescence and immunoreactivity for tyrosine hydroxylase and the neuropeptides, neuropeptide Y, somatostatin and vasoactive intestinal polypeptide. In addition, the cultures of both ganglia displayed the various neurotransmitter characteristics in approximately the same percentage of the cultured neurons as reported in in vivo studies. A small percentage of principal neurons and many small, intensely fluorescent-like cells labeled with antibodies against 5-hydroxytryptamine. Many of the principal neurons were found to bear 5-hydroxytryptamine3 receptors, suggesting a possible role for this neurotransmitter in neuron-neuron and small, intensely fluorescent cell-neuron transmission. We conclude that adult guinea-pig sympathetic neurons retain their neurotransmitter phenotypes when grown in dissociated cell culture. These properties include the co-expression of the classical transmitters, norepinephrine, 5-hydroxytryptamine and neuropeptides. This culture preparation will prove to be valuable in future studies on the functional properties of these neurons and their development.