The blockade of bulbospinal inhibition by imipramine, desipramine and pargyline

Serotonergic fibers induce a long-lasting inhibition of monosynaptic reflex in the neonatal rat spinal cord

The transmitter mechanism of a long-lasting descending inhibition of the monosynaptic reflex was investigated in the isolated spinal cord of the neonatal rat. The monosynaptic reflex elicited by dorsal root stimulation was recorded extracellularly from a lumbar ventral root (L3-L5). Electrical stimulation of the upper thoracic part of the hemisected cord caused an inhibition lasting about 40 s of the monosynaptic reflex. This descending inhibition was markedly attenuated by perfusing the spinal cord with reserpine (1 microM) or 5,7-dihydroxytryptamine (10 microM) for 2-6 h. The perfusion with reserpine (1 microM) for 4 h significantly decreased the contents of 5-hydroxytryptamine, dopamine, and norepinephrine of the neonatal rat spinal cord, whereas the perfusion with 5,7-dihydroxytryptamine (10 microM) for 4 h decreased the contents of 5-hydroxytryptamine and dopamine. The descending inhibition was markedly potentiated by a 5-hydroxytryptamine uptake blocker, citalopram (10 nM), and was blocked by a 5-hydroxytryptamine antagonist, ketanserin (10-100 nM). Application of 5-hydroxytryptamine to the spinal cord induced an inhibition of the monosynaptic reflex, a later part of which was blocked by ketanserin. Ketanserin also moderately blocked inhibitions of the monosynaptic reflex caused by norepinephrine and dopamine. Phentolamine (10 microM) abolished the depressant actions of norepinephrine and dopamine, but did not affect that of 5-hydroxytryptamine or the descending inhibition. These results strongly suggest the involvement of 5-hydroxytryptamine, but not dopamine nor norepinephrine, in the descending inhibition. Besides ketanserin, the descending inhibition was blocked by ritanserin, haloperidol, and pipamperone, which have affinities to 5-hydroxytryptamine2 receptors, and also by spiperone and methiothepin, which are antagonists at both 5-hydroxytryptamine1 and 5-hydroxytryptamine2 receptors (all 1 microM). On the other hand, a 5-hydroxytryptamine1C and 5-hydroxytryptamine2 antagonist, mesulergine (1 microM), and 5-hydroxytryptamine3 antagonists, ICS 205-930 and quipazine (both 1 microM), did not depress either the descending inhibition or the 5-hydroxytryptamine-evoked inhibition of the monosynaptic reflex. The results with these antagonists favor the involvement of 5-hydroxytryptamine2 receptors although the results with mesulergine disagree with this notion. 5-Hydroxytryptamine1 agonists, such as 8-hydroxy-2-(di-n-propylamino)tetralin, buspirone, and 5-carboxyamidotryptamine, and a 5-hydroxytryptamine3 agonist, 2-methyl-5-hydroxytryptamine, induced a long-lasting inhibition of the monosynaptic reflex, which was blocked by ketanserin whereas a 5-hydroxytryptamine2 agonist, S-(+)-alpha-methyl-5-hydroxytryptamine, evoked a biphasic inhibition, in which only the later component was blocked by ketanserin.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

LSD but not methysergide reduces the inhibitory effect of the medullary raphe stimulation on the spinal reflex in rats

Conditioning stimulation of the nucleus raphe in the rat medulla enhanced the monosynaptic reflex (MSR) and depressed the polysynaptic reflex (PSR) in separate time courses. The PSR decreasing effect was reduced in preparations pretreated with reserpine, PCPA, or 5,6-DHT. The MSR increasing effect was not altered by these three pretreatments. Intravenously administered LSD but not methysergide reduced the PSR decreasing effect with no influence on the MSR increasing effect. These two drugs had similar effects on the unconditioned responses; the MSR was decreased and the PSR was increased. Thus, the PSR decreasing effect seems to be mediated via a serotonergic pathway probably descending from the nucleus raphe.

Selective inhibition by methysergide of the monosynaptic reflex discharge in the isolated spinal cord of the newborn rat

In the isolated spinal cord of the newborn rat, methysergide and LSD-25 depressed the monosynaptic reflex discharge selectively. Cyproheptadine and dimethothiazine did not inhibit the monosynaptic reflex. The selective inhibitory effect of methysergide on the monosynaptic reflex was not due to a presumptive low safety factor of this reflex. The inhibition was restored under a condition such as the compound action potential in the dorsal root was enhanced by 4-aminopyridine. Methysergide did not decrease the sensitivity of the motoneuron to substance P and L-glutamic acid. It is suggested that methysergide acts at the presynaptic terminal of Ia afferent fibers and depresses evoked transmitter release.

Neurochemical modulation of sensory-motor reactivity: acoustic and tactile startle reflexes

The present review argues that the startle reflex is particularly well suited as a model system to analyze how drugs alter stimulus reactivity and reflex excitability. It then reviews all the literature to date on how drugs or lesions that are thought to alter neurochemical transmitter systems affect acoustic and/or tactile startle. Hypotheses are presented to account for how serotonin, dopamine, norepinephrine, acetylcholine, and opiates modulate startle. Effects on startle plasticity such as habituation, sensitization, and potentiation resulting from prior associative learning are also included.

Increased sensitivity to intracerebroventricular infusion of serotonin and deaminated indoles after lesioning rat with dihydroxytryptamine

Rats were prepared with a chronic intracerebroventricular cannula, and treated with intracisternal 5,7-dihydroxytryptamine (DHT) after i.p. desmethylimipramine or control vehicle. After recovery, they were tested behaviorally by direct observation and electronic monitoring of motor activity. Intraventricular infusion of a placebo or 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid (5-HIAA) had little effect, but serotonin (5-HT) decreased, and norepinephrine increased locomotor activity in intact rats. Following pretreatment with 5,7-DHT, a small increase in locomotor activity was noted which was not altered by intracranial infusion of vehicle. In contrast, infusions of 5-HT produced a striking dose-dependent (ED50 = 5 micrograms/min) pattern of hyperactivity, 'myoclonic' jerking movements, postural changes, and autonomic responses. Norepinephrine increased locomotor activity in the DHT-lesioned rats (but not significantly more than in controls), but failed to produce the myoclonic syndrome. The deaminated indoles, indoleacetaldehyde and 5-HIAA were more potent than 5-HT in producing the myoclonic response; tryptamine when infused at an equimolar dose had no effect. The putative serotonin antagonists, cyproheptadine and methiothepin (i.p.), were more effective in blocking responses to infused 5-HT than to equipotent doses of deaminated indoles. These behavioral responses may represent exaggerated ex"itatory effects mediated by serotonin in the brain stem and spinal cord, possibly modified by altered forebrain mechanisms. A neurophysiologic or neuropharmacologic role for deminated indoles should be reconsidered as they may not merely be inactive metabolites.

Fluvoxamine and clomipramine in the treatment of cataplexy

Fluvoxamine 25-200 mg daily and clomipramine 25-200 mg daily were given for separate three week periods to 18 subjects with narcolepsy and cataplexy. Both drugs improved cataplexy but not narcolepsy. Fluvoxamine was less active than clomipramine, but both drugs abolished cataplexy in individual subjects. Gastrointestinal side effects prevented treatment with fluvoxamine in five subjects. All patients completed the clomipramine phase of the trial, but two men complained of delayed ejaculation. Fluvoxamine is a more potent inhibitor of 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) reuptake in some systems, but not in others. It is therefore uncertain whether the greater anticataplectic effect of clomipramine is due to a greater inhibition of 5-HT reuptake or to other mechanisms.

Tonic inhibitory influence of a supraspinal monoaminergic system on presynaptic inhibition of an extensor monosynaptic reflex

Presynaptic inhibition of the extensor (quadriceps, QUAD) monosynaptic reflex (MSR) in unanaesthetized decerebrate cats was antagonized by imipramine hydrochloride (2-5 mg/kg), 5-hydroxytryptophan (75 mg/kg) and a specific 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) neuronal uptake blocker, fluoxetine hydrochloride (Lilly 110140, 0.25-6 mg/kg). These effects of imipramine and fluoxetine were partially reversed by the 5-HT antagonist, cyproheptadine hydrochloride (5 mg/kg), and completely reversed by the application of a thoracic cold block which prevents supraspinal inputs to the caudal spinal cord. Imipramine, however, failed to antagonize this inhibition in animals pretreated with either DL-p-chlorophenylalanine (p-CPA, 300 mg/kg i.p. for 2 consecutive days) or DL-a-methyl-p-tyrosine methyl ester hydrochloride (a-MPt, 125 mg/kg i.p. 16 and 4 h prior to the experiment). Cyproheptadine (2.5--5 mg/kg); phenoxybenzamine hydrochloride (2.5-5 mg/kg) and a cold block enhanced the inhibition of this extensor MSR but a cold block failed to alter the inhibition in animals pretreated with p-CPA or a-MPT. Presynaptic inhibition of the flexor (posterior biceps-semitendinosus, PBST) MSR was however not blocked by imipramine, fluoxetine or a cold block nor enhanced by cyproheptadine or phenoxybenzamine. The effects of the drugs tested and a cold block on the excitability of the QUAD group Ia afferents were reciprocal to those on the MSR during presynaptic inhibition. The results of this study indicate that descending tonically active systems (1) involving 5-HT and noradrenaline, antagonize presynaptic inhibition of the QUAD but not the PBST-MSR, (2) decrease the excitability of the QUAD Ia afferents and (3) increase the excitability of QUAD motoneurones.

Tonic inhibitory influence of a supraspinal monoaminergic system on recurrent inhibition of an extensor monosynaptic reflex

Recurrent inhibition of the extensor (quadriceps) monosynaptic reflex (MSR) was antagonized by a 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) precursor, 5-hydroxytryptophan (5-HTP, 75 mg/kg), and a specific 5-HT neuronal uptake blocker, fluoxetine-HC1 (Lilly 110140, 0.25-6 mg/kg), in unanaesthetized decerebrate cats. This inhibition of the flexor (posterior biceps-semitendinosus) MSR was not altered by fluoxetine. Cyproheptadine-HC1 (5 mg/kg) partially reversed the above blocking actions of 5-HTP and fluoxetine and a thoracic "cold block", which eliminates supraspinal inputs to the caudal spinal cord, also eliminated the blockade by fluoxetine on recurrent inhibition. Cyproheptadine (2.5-5 mg/kg) or phenoxybenzamine-HC1 (2.5-5 mg/kg), administered alone, enhanced recurrent inhibition of the extensor but not of the flexor MSR. Since a "cold block" increased recurrent inhibition of the extensor reflex in control animals but failed to alter the inhibition in animals pretreated with either DL-p-chlorophenylalanine (300 mg/kg i.p. for 2 consecutive days) or DL-a-methyl-p-tyrosine methyl ester-HC1 (125 mg/kg i.p. 16 and 4 h prior to experiment), the monoaminergic system would appear to be tonically active. In addition the neuronal uptake blocker, imipramine-HC1 (0.125-4 mg/kg), was more potent in antagonizing recurrent inhibition when injected intra-arterially to the spinal cord than when administered intra-arterially to the brain stem or intravenously, indicating that this agent acts in the spinal cord to block the inhibition. These results support our previous proposal (ref. 18) that a supraspinal system involving 5-HT and noradrenaline antagonizes recurrent inhibition of the quadriceps MSR. This monoaminergic system is tonically active with the 5-HT nerve terminals located in the spinal cord.

Serotonin involvement in the blockade of bulbospinal inhibition of the spinal monosynaptic reflex

Bulbospinal inhibition of the extensor quadriceps monosynaptic reflex (MSR) was antagonized by the serotonin precursor, 5-hydroxytryptophan (5-HTP, 75 mg/kg), in unanesthetized, mid-collicular, decerebrate cats. Fluoxetine HCl (Lilly 110140, 0.25 - 6 mg/kg), a specific serotonin neuronal uptake blocker, also blocked this inhibition as well as bulbospinal inhibition of the flexor posterior biceps-semi-tendinosus MSR. The serotonin antagonist, cyproheptadine HCl (5 mg/kg), partially reversed the above blocking actions of 5-HTP and fluoxetine and enhanced bulbospinal inhibition when administered alone in doses of 2.5-5 mg/kg. Imipramine HCl (0.125 - 4 mg/kg) was more potent in antagonizing bulbospinal inhibition of the dorsal root-ventral root MSR when administered intra-arterially to the spinal cord than when injected intra-arterially to the brain stem or intravenously, indicating that the spinal cord is the site of imipramine's action. These results support our earlier proposal that a 5-HT system antagonizes bulbospinal inhibition of the MSR. They also indicate that the 5-HT system is tonically active and exerts its blocking action in the spinal cord.