5-hydroxytryptophan uptake in indoleaminergic nerve fibers within rat cerebrovascular tree

Local treatments of dorsal raphe nucleus induce changes in serotonergic activity in rat major cerebral arteries

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Rat major cerebral arteries seem to receive serotonergic fibers originating from the dorsal raphe nucleus (DRN), but little is known about their function. The aim of our present work was to establish a functional relationship between this brain stem nucleus and the cerebral blood vessels by studying the effects of several treatments in the DRN on cerebrovascular serotonergic activity.

METHODS

Serotonin, clomipramine, 8-OH-DPAT, and WAY-100635 were administered in DRN. A stereotaxically localized electrode allowed the electrical stimulation of this brain stem nucleus. Serotonergic activity was appraised in major cerebral arteries, striatum, and hippocampus from 5-hydroxytryptophan accumulation after aromatic L-amino acid decarboxylase inhibition with NSD-1015.

RESULTS

Serotonin significantly decreased serotonergic activity in major cerebral arteries and striatum without affecting it in hippocampus. This reduction was blocked by previous injection of WAY-100635 in DRN. Local administration of 8-OH-DPAT or clomipramine elicited an effect similar to that of serotonin, whereas that of WAY-100635 did not modify serotonergic activity in either of the tissues. Electrical stimulation of DRN significantly increased serotonergic activity in major cerebral arteries and striatum but not in hippocampus.

CONCLUSIONS

These results confirm the presence of a serotonergic innervation in rat major cerebral arteries functionally related to DRN. 5-HT(1A) receptor activation partly mediates the action of serotonin in DRN. A serotonergic tone acting on these somatodendritic receptors was not clearly found.

Estrogen and progesterone withdrawal increases cerebral vasoreactivity to serotonin in rabbit basilar artery

An in vitro animal model which examines the effects of sex hormone variations during the menstrual cycle on basilar artery reactivity is presented. Three groups of rabbits were utilized: a chronically depleted control group which received no further hormonal treatment after bilateral surgical oophorectomy (O), simulating menopause, and two groups of intact females, one of which was treated to mimic the estrogen and progesterone surge during the luteal phase (H) and the third group which was acutely estrogen and progesterone depleted after the luteal surges to simulate the immediate premenstrual state (W). We show that both acute and chronic estrogen and progesterone withdrawal significantly increase serotonin sensitivity (ED50) in basilar artery rings. There was no difference between groups for maximum contraction (Tmax) to serotonin, nor optimal resting tension. Furthermore, there was no difference in vasoreactivity and contractility to norepinephrine between groups. In order to distinguish between the effects of chronic and acute treatment we examined acute estrogen and progesterone superfusion in basilar artery rings from intact non-treated female rabbits. Acute superfusion of pre-contracted and non-pre-contracted artery segments resulted in significant dilatation only when supraphysiologic concentrations of estrogen and progesterone were used. We conclude that both acute and chronic female sex hormone withdrawal selectively increases cerebral vasoreactivity to serotonin.

The role of platelets in the development of cerebral vasospasm

A possible role of platelet-derived 5-HT was examined concerning the pathogenesis of cerebral vasospasm. Intracisternal injection of 5 ml of platelet-rich plasma (PRP; approximately 7.5 x 10(8) platelets) induced not only acute (1 h) but also chronic (7 days) angiographically evident cerebral vasospasm in dogs. Sympathetic perivascular nerves on cerebral arteries showed no remarkable change following repeated injections of PRP, as the dense distribution of catecholamine-fluorescence and neuropeptide Y-like immunoreactive nerve fibers on Day 7 was comparable to findings in the preinjection controls. While there were no 5-HT-immunoreactive fibers in the cerebral arteries of control animals, numerous 5-HT-immunoreactive fibers were present in the PRP-injected animals. These results suggest that 5-HT, presumably released from extravasated platelets, may be taken up by nerve endings and act as a vasoconstrictor transmitter in the pathogenesis of chronic vasospasm.

Characteristic structures of serotonin neuron system. An immunohistochemical study

Since 1982, the authors have carried out intensive immunohistochemical studies on the distribution of serotonin neurons in the central nervous system and have reported the distinctive structures of these nerve cells. In the present study, two characteristic findings are described with special regard to the histophysiological significance: (1) direct innervation of the cerebral arteries by central serotonin neurons and (2) the perineuronal ivylike serotonin plexus.

Distribution of biogenic amines and their catabolites in brains from patients with Alzheimer's disease

Norepinephrine, epinephrine, dopamine, serotonin and their major catabolites were measured in 17 regions of the left hemisphere of two brains obtained from two brothers with Alzheimer's disease with very early onset. The clinical diagnosis was confirmed by histological examination of the right hemispheres and brain stems. The quantitative data were compared with our values in normal brains. In the patient suffering from the less severe dementia, there was a severe reduction of the serotonin concentration in all examined neocortical areas and its concentration was even below the detection limit in the nucleus amygdalis, hippocampus, caudate nucleus, putamen, globus pallidus and substantia nigra. In the other patient, who suffered from a more pronounced dementia with myoclonus, the serotonin concentration was below the detection limit in all examined structures. In contrast with these findings, the noradrenergic, adrenergic and dopaminergic systems appeared to be relatively unaffected by the disease process. Focusing our attention on the nuclei wherein the monoamine transmitter systems originate, it appeared that neuronal losses and neurofibrillary tangles clearly predominated in the substantia grisea subependymalis, the nucleus centralis superior and the nucleus raphe dorsalis, origin of the main serotonergic system. The serotonin deficiency sheds light on possible mechanisms of myoclonus in Alzheimer's disease.

Serotonin as an alternative transmitter in sympathetic nerves of large cerebral arteries of the rabbit

The distribution of serotonin (5-HT)-like immunoreactive (5-HT-LI) nerves and the potential role of 5-HT as a vasoconstrictor transmitter in large cerebral arteries of the rabbit were examined. 5-HT-LI fibers with weak immunofluorescence were observed in the anterior cerebral, middle cerebral, and basilar arteries when fixed by immersion after dissection from exsanguinated animals. The 5-HT-LI fibers, however, were not detected in these arteries when fixed either in vitro or in situ after first being perfused with Krebs solution in situ to flush the blood component from the lumen prior to dissection. In these arteries, 5-HT-LI nerve fibers with intense immunofluorescence, however, reappeared following incubation with 5-HT in vitro. The intensity of the 5-HT-LI fibers seemed to be proportional to the duration and 5-HT concentration during incubation. Following chronic surgical sympathectomy, 5-HT-LI fibers were not detected in arteries before or after incubation with 5-HT. Transmural nerve stimulation elicited constriction in 50% of the control arterial segments examined. The constriction was not affected by ketanserin but was prevented by guanethidine and chronic surgical sympathectomy. The remaining arterial segments that did not respond on transmural nerve stimulation, however, became constrictive on transmural nerve stimulation following incubation with 5-HT in vitro. The constriction was blocked by ketanserin and clonidine. These results demonstrate that the large cerebral artery of the rabbit brain has extremely sparse or no authentic 5-HT-LI nerves.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Effects of Iskedyl and its two constituents raubasine and dihydroergocristine on the release of [3H]noradrenaline and [3H]serotonin in canine basilar arteries

In strips of isolated canine basilar arteries, previously labeled with 3 X 10(-7) M of either [3H]noradrenaline or [3H]serotonin, three consecutive periods of electrical stimulation (2 Hz) evoked a reproducible overflow of the respective [3H]amine. Increasing concentrations of raubasine (7.5 X 10(-7)-7.5 X 10(-6) M) did not influence the spontaneous 3H efflux but increased the stimulation-induced 3H overflow in a concentration-dependent way. The highest concentration of raubasine used (2.5 X 10(-5) M) caused an increased spontaneous 3H efflux but no longer augmented the stimulation-induced 3H overflow. Dihydroergocristine (5.4 X 10(-8)-1.8 X 10(-6) M) did not affect the spontaneous 3H efflux; the compound slightly but significantly reduced the stimulation-evoked 3H overflow concentration dependently. High concentrations of Iskedyl (mixtures of raubasine and dihydroergocristine in a 14:1 molar ratio) augmented the spontaneous 3H efflux and moderately decreased the stimulation-induced 3H overflow. Although some quantitative differences were noted, the compounds exerted similar effects on arteries labeled with either [3H]noradrenaline or [3H]serotonin. The most important difference detected was that DHEC decreased the stimulation-induced release of [3H]serotonin more than that of [3H]noradrenaline. Our results allow a comparison of [3H]noradrenaline and [3H]serotonin release in the dog basilar artery: the basal fractional release of [3H]serotonin was higher than that of [3H]noradrenaline while the stimulation-induced overflow was equal in both groups of tissues. The constituents of Iskedyl can profoundly affect the release of the neurotransmitters. Raubasine, a presynaptic alpha-receptor antagonist, increases the stimulation-induced release of the neurotransmitters and both DHEC, a presynaptic receptor agonist, and the combination of the compounds, Iskedyl, decrease the release of the neurotransmitters.

Neurochemical studies on the existence, origin and characteristics of the serotonergic innervation of small pial vessels

Substantial concentrations of serotonin (5-HT) and 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid (5-HIAA), comparable to those found in brain tissue, were measured in the small pial vessels of the rat, rabbit and cat. Both rat and rabbit pial vessels exhibited a high affinity uptake process with kinetic parameters similar to those identified for the cerebral cortex. Labelled 5-HT, taken up by isolated rabbit pial vessels was released, in a calcium-dependent manner, by potassium-induced depolarization. Various pharmacological manipulations were carried out in the rat. Systemic administration of the 5-HT precursor, 5-hydroxytryptophan and the monoamine oxidase inhibitor, pargyline, significantly increased the concentration of 5-HT in the pial vessels; in contrast, two depleting agents (p-chloroamphetamine and reserpine) and the tryptophan hydroxylase inhibitor, p-chlorophenylalanine, all decreased the perivascular 5-HT levels. A serotonergic antagonist (methysergide) and a 5-HT receptor agonist (MK 212) respectively increased and decreased the concentrations of 5-HIAA in the pial vessels. These pharmacologically induced changes observed in pial vessels were not dissimilar from those noted for cortical tissue. Electrolytic lesions of the nuclei raphes medianus and/or dorsalis markedly decreased the levels of 5-HT and 5-HIAA in these small cerebral arterioles. Electrical stimulation of these nuclei decreased 5-HT although 5-HIAA concentrations tended to increase. A number of conclusions may be drawn from these studies. Thus, there is a serotonergic innervation of the cerebral circulation in several laboratory species which unequivocally originates in the raphé nuclei. Furthermore, these perivascular fibres possess synthetic, storage, release, inactivation and autoregulatory processes for 5-HT which, when further elucidated, may offer some rationale for the treatment of those cerebrovascular diseases in which this neurotransmitter and vasoactive agent is believed to be of pathological importance.

Vascular monoamine oxidase activity in the rat brain: variation with the substrate and the vascular segment

Brain vascular monoamine oxidase (MAO) was assayed in order to determine (a) whether microvessel MAO is more or less specific for certain substrates and (b) if the extraparenchymal, pial arteries possess an MAO activity as high as that in the microvessels. Rat brain microvessels were prepared by gentle homogenisation of grey matter, followed by filtration and differential centrifugation of the matter retained. Pial arteries were carefully freed of the meninges and cut into small segments. For comparison, rat mesenteric arteries were also dissected out and cut up. MAO was assayed by measuring the rate of oxygen consumption in a small cell with a Clark electrode. Although a high microvessel MAO activity (2.2 +/- 0.3 nmol min-1 mg prot.-1) was found using noradrenaline as substrate, significantly higher rates were found with tyramine, serotonin and beta-phenyl-ethylamine. By contrast, both pial and mesenteric arteries showed a 6-7 fold lower activity (substrate tyramine). These results indicate first, that a certain specialisation of the microvessel MAO activity exists which is apparently independent of the classical A or B-form category of the substrates, and second, that the extraparenchymal vessels (pial arteries) appear to possess significantly lower MAO activity, in accordance with the concept that blood-brain properties are induced by the cerebral parenchyma.

Characterization of [3H]5-hydroxytryptamine uptake within rat cerebrovascular tree

The in vitro uptake of tritiated serotonin ([3H]5HT) was studied in a preparation of rat extracerebral arteries. The uptake of [3H]5HT was time- and temperature-dependent and of high affinity; linear regression analysis gave a Km value of 6.48 X 10(-7) M for the specific uptake. Bilateral superior cervical ganglionectomy was without effect on [3H]5HT uptake while it significantly reduced the uptake of tritiated norepinephrine by the preparation of rat extracerebral arteries. The serotonergic neurotoxin 5,7-dihydroxytryptamine and lesions to both the medial and the dorsal raphe nuclei caused a marked loss of [3H]5HT uptake but did not change the uptake of tritiated norepinephrine. Competition studies with norepinephrine, desimipramine (a noradrenergic uptake blocker), nomifensine (a dopaminergic uptake blocker) and fluoxetine (a 5HT uptake blocker) confirmed the specificity of the [3H]5HT uptake mechanism. Histoautoradiographic studies showed the highest density of silver grains at the level of the adventitial-medial border of the basilar artery. Fluoxetine inhibited the accumulation of silver grains within the adventitial-medial border in the blood vessel studied. The present data further support the view that a neuronal serotonergic system may play a role in the control of blood flow in the cerebrovascular tree.

Functional bases for a central serotonergic involvement in classic migraine: a speculative view

The rôle of serotonin (5-HT) in the cerebrovascular bed is the subject of the following review. Cerebral blood vessels are supplied with 5-HT-containing fibres which originate in the raphé nuclei in the brainstem. The activation of this system may result in a constriction of large arteries and a dilatation of arterioles. Intra-arterial administration of 5-HT causes reduction in cerebral blood flow and metabolism provided it bypasses the blood-brain barrier. The findings, marked changes in plasma levels of 5-HT and in cerebral blood flow during a classic migraine attack, are suggestive of an involvement of the 5-HT system.

Nimodipine has an inhibitory action on neurotransmitter release from human cerebral arteries

The effect of the dihydropyridine nimodipine was studied on the resting and K+-evoked release of [3H]acetylcholine (ACh) and [3H]5-hydroxytryptamine (5HT) from postmortem human cerebral arteries. Nimodipine, at a concentration of 30 microM, significantly reduced the K+-evoked release of [3H]ACh from anterior and middle cerebral arteries by 36 and 70%, respectively, and the K+-evoked release of [3H]5HT from basilar and middle cerebral arteries by 55 and 66%, respectively. The mode of action of nimodipine is interpreted in terms of a specific effect on the depolarisation-induced calcium current occurring in neuronal elements present in these preparations but absent from brain.

Autoradiographic localization of 5-HT1 receptors to human and canine basilar arteries

Autoradiographic techniques were used to identify serotonergic binding sites in human and canine basilar artery segments. 5-HT1, but not 5-HT2, receptors could be localized to the medial layer of the vascular wall using both [3H]LSD and [3H]5-HT. The identification of 5-HT1 binding sites in human and canine basilar arteries provides anatomical evidence that the 5-HT1 receptor mediates vasoconstriction in these major intracranial vessels.

Indoleaminergic mechanisms in brain vessels; localization, concentration, uptake and in vitro responses of 5-hydroxytryptamine

Immunocytochemical studies have revealed the presence of 5-HT-containing nerve fibres in all parts of the cerebrovascular bed (arteries, arterioles and veins) of mouse, rat, guinea-pig, rabbit and cat. Biochemical measurements (using HPLC) revealed substantial concentrations of 5-HT and 5-HIAA in the pial vessels of the rat, rabbit, cat and man, the amounts corresponding well with the density of the perivascular nerve supply. The uptake of 3H-5-HT was studied in arteries removed from the circle of Willis in rats. Maximum uptake was reached after 15 min of incubation at 37 degrees C and plateaued at 30 min. The reaction was temperature-dependent and found to be absent if performed at 0 degrees C. Pharmacological experiments on isolated middle cerebral and basilar arteries showed that vessels from rat and dog were contracted by approximately 90% upon administration of 5-HT, whereas vessels from guinea-pig, rabbit, cat and man were contracted by 40 to 60% relative to 124 mM K+. The EC50 values in the different species varied by between 1.5 X 10(-7) M (rat) and 3 X 10(-9) M (dog). The 5-HT-induced contractions were blocked by the 5-HT antagonists, methysergide, methergoline and ketanserin. Transmural nerve stimulation (TNS) of the rabbit basilar artery revealed a tetrodotoxin sensitive constriction whereas TNS of cat and dog middle cerebral arteries caused a tetrodotoxin-sensitive relaxation. The relaxation was not significantly attenuated until high doses of methergoline (3 X 10(-6) M) or ketanserin (3 X 10(-5) M) had been given.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Central serotonergic nerves project to the pial vessels of the brain

Serotonin is strongly implicated in the aetiology of several cerebrovascular (circulatory) diseases, including stroke, migraine and vasospasm. Previous studies have suggested the existence of an indoleaminergic system of perivascular nerves in large cerebral arteries of the lamprey. In addition, some authors have observed that cerebral arteries (such as the vertebrobasilar system of the rabbit) and microvessels may take up serotonin and 5-hydroxytryptophan in various species. However, neither large cerebral arteries nor microvessels (primarily capillaries) directly control, or change, cerebral blood flow; as in other vascular beds, it is the arterioles and small arteries that are the major resistance elements. We report here on the presence of a central serotonergic innervation of pial arteries and arterioles in the rat, using immunocytochemical and neurochemical techniques. The fibres seem to have a central neuronal origin, emanating from both median and dorsal raphé nuclei. This perivascular serotonergic innervation may have a role both in the normal regulation of the cerebral circulation and in pathological conditions.

Immunohistochemical demonstration of serotonin in nerves supplying human cerebral and mesenteric blood-vessels. Some speculations about their involvement in vascular disorders

Serotonin (5-hydroxytryptamine, 5-HT) can produce vasoconstriction or vasodilatation and has been implicated in the pathogenesis of many vascular disorders. Nerves containing 5-HT were demonstrated by immunofluorescence histochemistry in fetal cerebral and mesenteric blood-vessels.

Indoleaminergic innervation of rat choroid plexus: a fluorescence histochemical study

Using a fluorescence histochemical technique we found that the precursor of serotonin, 5-hydroxytryptophan (5-HTP), is taken up by a population of nerve fiber-like structures, indoleaminergic in nature since selectively destroyed by the neurotoxin 6-hydroxytryptamine, within rat choroid plexus. Nerve fiber-like structures are localized within the wall of choroid blood vessels. More infrequently nerve fibers end in the stroma or in close relation to epithelial cells of the plexus. The electrolytic lesioning of raphe nuclei causes the disappearance of 5-HTP fluorescence, suggesting that these nerve fibers originate from raphe nuclei. These results suggest a direct influence of indoleaminergic pathways originating from the brainstem on the blood flow through choroid plexus as well as on the production of cerebrospinal fluid.