Cerebrovascular disease in patients with COVID-19: neuroimaging, histological and clinical description

Since the appearance of the first case of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) a pandemic has emerged affecting millions of people worldwide. Although the main clinical manifestations are respiratory, an increase in neurological conditions, specifically acute cerebrovascular disease, has been detected. We present cerebrovascular disease case incidence in hospitalized patients with SARS-CoV-2 infection. Patients were confirmed by microbiological/serological testing, or on chest CT semiology. Available data on comorbidity, laboratory parameters, treatment administered, neuroimaging, neuropathological studies and clinical evolution during hospitalization, measured by the modified Rankin scale, were analysed. A bivariate study was also designed to identify differences between ischaemic and haemorrhagic subtypes. A statistical model of binary logistic regression and sensitivity analysis was designed to study the influence of independent variables over prognosis. In our centre, there were 1683 admissions of patients with COVID-19 over 50 days, of which 23 (1.4%) developed cerebrovascular disease. Within this group of patients, cerebral and chest CT scans were performed in all cases, and MRI in six (26.1%). Histological samples were obtained in 6/23 cases (two brain biopsies, and four arterial thrombi). Seventeen patients were classified as cerebral ischaemia (73.9%, with two arterial dissections), five as intracerebral haemorrhage (21.7%), and one leukoencephalopathy of posterior reversible encephalopathy type. Haemorrhagic patients had higher ferritin levels at the time of stroke (1554.3 versus 519.2, P = 0.004). Ischaemic strokes were unexpectedly frequent in the vertebrobasilar territory (6/17, 35.3%). In the haemorrhagic group, a characteristic radiological pattern was identified showing subarachnoid haemorrhage, parieto-occipital leukoencephalopathy, microbleeds and single or multiple focal haematomas. Brain biopsies performed showed signs of thrombotic microangiopathy and endothelial injury, with no evidence of vasculitis or necrotizing encephalitis. The functional prognosis during the hospital period was unfavourable in 73.9% (17/23 modified Rankin scale 4–6), and age was the main predictive variable (odds ratio = 1.5; 95% confidence interval 1.012–2.225; P = 0.043). Our series shows cerebrovascular disease incidence of 1.4% in patients with COVID-19 with high morbidity and mortality. We describe pathological and radiological data consistent with thrombotic microangiopathy caused by endotheliopathy with a haemorrhagic predisposition.

A giant exoplanet orbiting a very-low-mass star challenges planet formation models

Surveys have shown that super-Earth and Neptune-mass exoplanets are more frequent than gas giants around low-mass stars, as predicted by the core accretion theory of planet formation. We report the discovery of a giant planet around the very-low-mass star GJ 3512, as determined by optical and near-infrared radial-velocity observations. The planet has a minimum mass of 0.46 Jupiter masses, very high for such a small host star, and an eccentric 204-day orbit. Dynamical models show that the high eccentricity is most likely due to planet-planet interactions. We use simulations to demonstrate that the GJ 3512 planetary system challenges generally accepted formation theories, and that it puts constraints on the planet accretion and migration rates. Disk instabilities may be more efficient in forming planets than previously thought.

Exome sequencing study in patients with multiple sclerosis reveals variants associated with disease course

Background

It remains unclear whether disease course in multiple sclerosis (MS) is influenced by genetic polymorphisms. Here, we aimed to identify genetic variants associated with benign and aggressive disease courses in MS patients.

Methods

MS patients were classified into benign and aggressive phenotypes according to clinical criteria. We performed exome sequencing in a discovery cohort, which included 20 MS patients, 10 with benign and 10 with aggressive disease course, and genotyping in 2 independent validation cohorts. The first validation cohort encompassed 194 MS patients, 107 with benign and 87 with aggressive phenotypes. The second validation cohort comprised 257 patients, of whom 224 patients had benign phenotypes and 33 aggressive disease courses. Brain immunohistochemistries were performed using disease course associated genes antibodies.

Results

By means of single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) detection and comparison of allele frequencies between patients with benign and aggressive phenotypes, a total of 16 SNPs were selected for validation from the exome sequencing data in the discovery cohort. Meta-analysis of genotyping results in two validation cohorts revealed two polymorphisms, rs28469012 and rs10894768, significantly associated with disease course. SNP rs28469012 is located in CPXM2 (carboxypeptidase X, M14 family, member 2) and was associated with aggressive disease course (uncorrected p value < 0.05). SNP rs10894768, which is positioned in IGSF9B (immunoglobulin superfamily member 9B) was associated with benign phenotype (uncorrected p value < 0.05). In addition, a trend for association with benign phenotype was observed for a third SNP, rs10423927, in NLRP9 (NLR family pyrin domain containing 9). Brain immunohistochemistries in chronic active lesions from MS patients revealed expression of IGSF9B in astrocytes and macrophages/microglial cells, and expression of CPXM2 and NLRP9 restricted to brain macrophages/microglia.

Conclusions

Genetic variants located in CPXM2, IGSF9B, and NLRP9 have the potential to modulate disease course in MS patients and may be used as disease activity biomarkers to identify patients with divergent disease courses. Altogether, the reported results from this study support the influence of genetic factors in MS disease course and may help to better understand the complex molecular mechanisms underlying disease pathogenesis.

Electronic supplementary material

The online version of this article (10.1186/s12974-018-1307-1) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Erratum to: 36th International Symposium on Intensive Care and Emergency Medicine: Brussels, Belgium. 15-18 March 2016

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1186/s13054-016-1208-6.].

Optimization of isolation and cultivation of bacterial endophytes through addition of plant extract to nutrient media

Many endophytes have beneficial effects on plants and can be exploited in biotechnological applications. Studies hypothesize that only 0.001-1% of all plant-associated bacteria are cultivable. Moreover, even after successful isolations, many endophytic bacteria often show reduced regrowth capacity. This research aimed to optimize isolation processes and culturing these bacteria afterwards. We compared several minimal and complex media in a screening. Beside the media themselves, two gelling agents and adding plant extract to media were investigated to enhance the number and diversity of endophytes as well as the growth capacity when regrown after isolation. In this work, 869 medium delivered the highest numbers of cultivable bacteria, as well as the highest diversity. When comparing gelling agents, no differences were observed in the numbers of bacteria. Adding plant extract to the media lead to a slight increase in diversity. However, when adding plant extract to improve the regrowth capacity, sharp increases of viable bacteria occurred in both rich and minimal media.

Donitriptan, but not sumatriptan, inhibits capsaicin-induced canine external carotid vasodilatation via 5-HT1B rather than 5-HT1D receptors

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

It has been suggested that during a migraine attack capsaicin-sensitive trigeminal sensory nerves release calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP), resulting in cranial vasodilatation and central nociception; hence, trigeminal inhibition may prevent this vasodilatation and abort migraine headache. This study investigated the effects of the agonists sumatriptan (5-HT(1B/1D) water-soluble), donitriptan (5-HT(1B/1D) lipid-soluble), PNU-142633 (5-HT(1D) water-soluble) and PNU-109291 (5-HT(1D) lipid-soluble) on vasodilator responses to capsaicin, alpha-CGRP and acetylcholine in dog external carotid artery.

EXPERIMENTAL APPROACH

59 vagosympathectomized dogs were anaesthetized with sodium pentobarbitone. Blood pressure and heart rate were recorded with a pressure transducer, connected to a cannula inserted into a femoral artery. A precalibrated flow probe was placed around the common carotid artery, with ligation of the internal carotid and occipital branches, and connected to an ultrasonic flowmeter. The thyroid artery was cannulated for infusion of agonists.

KEY RESULTS

Intracarotid infusions of capsaicin, alpha-CGRP and acetylcholine dose-dependently increased blood flow through the carotid artery. These responses remained unaffected after intravenous (i.v.) infusions of sumatriptan, PNU-142633, PNU-109291 or physiological saline; in contrast, donitriptan significantly attenuated the vasodilator responses to capsaicin, but not those to alpha-CGRP or acetylcholine. Only sumatriptan and donitriptan dose-dependently decreased the carotid blood flow. Interestingly, i.v. administration of the antagonist, SB224289 (5-HT(1B)), but not of BRL15572 (5-HT(1D)), abolished the inhibition by donitriptan.

CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS

Our results suggest that the inhibition produced by donitriptan of capsaicin-induced external carotid vasodilatation is mainly mediated by 5-HT(1B), rather than 5-HT(1D), receptors, probably by a central mechanism.

Effects of sumatriptan on capsaicin-induced carotid haemodynamic changes and CGRP release in anaesthetized pigs

It is suggested that during a migraine attack capsaicin-sensitive trigeminal sensory nerves release calcitonin gene related peptide (CGRP), resulting in cranial vasodilatation and central nociception. Hence, inhibition of trigeminal CGRP release may prevent the above vasodilatation and, accordingly, abort migraine headache. Therefore, this study investigated the effects of sumatriptan (100 and 300 microg/kg, i.v.) on capsaicin-induced carotid haemodynamic changes and on CGRP release. Intracarotid (i.c.) infusions of capsaicin (10 microg/kg/min, i.c.) increased total carotid, arteriovenous anastomotic and capillary conductances as well as carotid pulsations, but decreased the difference between arterial and jugular venous oxygen saturations. Except for some attenuation of arteriovenous anastomotic changes, the capsaicin-induced responses were not affected by sumatriptan. Moreover, i.c. infusions of capsaicin (0.3, 1, 3 and 10 microg/kg/min, i.c.) dose-dependently increased the jugular venous plasma concentrations of CGRP, which also remained unaffected by sumatriptan. The above results support the contention that the therapeutic action of sumatriptan is mainly due to cranial vasoconstriction rather than trigeminal (CGRP release) inhibition.

Evidence for 5-HT(1B/1D) and 5-HT(2A) receptors mediating constriction of the canine internal carotid circulation

The present study has investigated the preliminary pharmacological profile of the receptors mediating vasoconstriction to 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) in the internal carotid bed of vagosympathectomised dogs. One minute intracarotid infusions of the agonists 5-HT (0.1 - 10 microg min(-1)), sumatriptan (0.3 - 10 microg min(-1); 5-HT(1B/1D)), 5-methoxytryptamine (1 - 100 microg min(-1); 5-HT(1), 5-HT(2), 5-HT(4), 5-ht(6) and 5-HT(7)) or DOI (0.31 - 10 microg min(-1); 5-HT(2)), but not 5-carboxamidotryptamine (0.01 - 0.3 microg min(-1); 5-HT(1), 5-ht(5A) and 5-HT(7)), 1-(m-chlorophenyl)-biguanide (mCPBG; 1 - 1000 microg min(-1); 5-HT(3)) or cisapride (1 - 1000 microg min(-1); 5-HT(4)), resulted in dose-dependent decreases in internal carotid blood flow, without changing blood pressure or heart rate. The vasoconstrictor responses to 5-HT, which remained unaffected after saline, were resistant to blockade by i.v. administration of the antagonists ritanserin (100 microg kg(-1); 5-HT(2A/2B/2C)) in combination with tropisetron (3000 microg kg(-1); 5-HT(3/4)) or the cyclo-oxygenase inhibitor, indomethacin (5000 microg kg(-1)), but were abolished by the 5-HT(1B/1D) receptor antagonist, GR127935 (30 microg kg(-1)). Interestingly, after administration of GR127935, the subsequent administration of ritanserin unmasked a dose-dependent vasodilator component. GR127935 or saline did not practically modify the vasoconstrictor effects of 5-MeO-T. In animals receiving GR127935, the subsequent administration of ritanserin abolished the vasoconstrictor responses to 5-MeO-T unmasking a dose-dependent vasodilator component. The vasoconstriction induced by sumatriptan was antagonized by GR127935, but not by ritanserin. Furthermore, ritanserin (100 microg kg(-1)) or ketanserin (100 microg kg(-1); 5-HT(2A)), but not GR127935, abolished DOI-induced vasoconstrictor responses. The above results suggest that 5-HT-induced internal carotid vasoconstriction is predominantly mediated by 5-HT(1B/1D) and 5-HT(2A) receptors.

The GR127935-sensitive 5-HT(1) receptors mediating canine internal carotid vasoconstriction: resemblance to the 5-HT(1B), but not to the 5-HT(1D) or 5-ht(1F), receptor subtype

This study has further investigated the pharmacological profile of the GR127935-sensitive 5-HT(1) receptors mediating vasoconstriction in the internal carotid bed of anaesthetized vagosympathectomized dogs. One-minute intracarotid infusions of the agonists 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT; 0.1 - 10 microg min(-1); endogenous ligand) and sumatriptan (0.3 - 10 microg min(-1); 5-HT(1B/1D)), but not PNU-142633 (1 - 1000 microg min(-1); 5-HT(1D)) or LY344864 (1 - 1000 microg min(-1); 5-ht(1F)), produced dose-dependent decreases in internal carotid blood flow without changing blood pressure or heart rate. The responses to 5-HT were apparently resistant to blockade by i.v. administration of the antagonists SB224289 (300 microg kg(-1); 5-HT(1B)), BRL15572 (300 microg kg(-1); 5-HT(1D)) or ritanserin (100 microg kg(-1); 5-HT(2)). In contrast, the responses to sumatriptan were antagonized by SB224289, but not by BRL15572. In the animals receiving SB224289, but not those receiving BRL15572, the subsequent administration of ritanserin abolished the 5-HT-induced vasoconstriction and unmasked a vasodilator component. Similarly, in ritanserin-treated animals, the subsequent administration of SB224289, but not BRL15572, completely blocked the 5-HT-induced vasoconstriction, revealing vasodilatation. In animals receiving initially BRL15572, the subsequent administration of SB224289 did not affect (except at 10 microg min(-1)) the vasoconstrictor responses to 5-HT. Notably, in animals pretreated with 1000 microg kg(-1) of mesulergine, a 5-HT(2/7) receptor antagonist, 5-HT produced a dose-dependent vasoconstriction, which was practically abolished by SB224289. After BRL15572, no further blockade was produced and the subsequent administration of ritanserin was similarly inactive. These results suggest that the GR127935-sensitive 5-HT(1) receptors mediating canine internal carotid vasoconstriction resemble the 5-HT(1B) but not the 5-HT(1D) or 5-ht(1F), receptor subtype.

Unravelling the pharmacological profile of the canine external carotid vasodilator '5-HT1-like' receptors: coexistence of sympatho-inhibitory 5-HT1B and postjunctional 5-HT7 receptors

It has been suggested that the external carotid vasodilatation produced by serotonin (5-hydroxytryptamine; 5-HT) in anaesthetised dogs with intact vagosympathetic trunks is mediated by sympatho-inhibitory '5-HT1D' receptors and musculotropic '5-HT1-like' receptors. The present study has re-analysed this suggestion with regard to the classification schemes recently proposed by the NC-IUPHAR subcommittee on 5-HT receptors. In pentobarbital-anaesthetised dogs with intact vagosympathetic trunks, 1-min intracarotid (i.c.) infusions of 5-carboxamidotryptamine (5-CT; 0.01-0.3 microg/min), 5-HT (0.3-30 microg/ min), 5-methoxytryptamine (5-MeO-T; 1-100 microg/min) or sumatriptan (1-100 microg/min) dose-dependently increased the external carotid blood flow without affecting blood pressure or heart rate. The selective 5-HT1D receptor agonist, PNU-142633 (1-1000 microg/min), was essentially inactive. After mesulergine (300 microg/kg, i.v.), an antagonist at cardiovascular 5-HT7 receptors, the above responses to 5-HT, 5-CT and 5-MeO-T were blocked, whilst those to sumatriptan remained unaffected. In contrast, after the 5-HT1B/1D receptor antagonist, GR127935 (10 microg/kg, i.v.), the responses to 5-HT, 5-CT and 5-MeO-T were not affected, but those to sumatriptan were abolished. Furthermore, after the selective 5-HT1B receptor antagonist, SB224289 (300 microg/kg, i.v.), the responses to 5-HT, 5-CT and 5-MeO-T were significantly enhanced, whereas those to sumatriptan were abolished. Interestingly, the responses to all these agonists remained unmodified after the selective 5-HT1D receptor antagonist, BRL15572 (300 microg/kg, i.v.). The above results suggest that the '5-HT1-like' receptors, which mediate canine external carotid vasodilatation, display the pharmacological profile of sympatho-inhibitory 5-HT1B receptors and musculotropic 5-HT7 receptors, and confirm the existence of vasoconstrictor 5-HT1B receptors.

Mediation of 5-HT-induced internal carotid vasodilatation in GR127935- and ritanserin-pretreated dogs by 5-HT7 receptors

The vasoconstrictor effects of 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) in the internal carotid bed of anaesthetised dogs with bilateral vagosympathectomy are mainly mediated by both 5-HT1B and 5-HT2 receptors. The blockade of this vasoconstrictor effect of 5-HT by the combined use of the antagonists, GR127935 (5-HT1B/1D) and ritanserin (5-HT2), unmasks a dose-dependent vasodilator effect of 5-HT, but not of sumatriptan. Therefore, the present study set out to analyse the pharmacological profile of this vasodilator 5-HT receptor in the internal carotid bed of vagosympathectomized dogs systematically pretreated with intravenous (i.v.) injections of GR127935 (30 microg/kg) and ritanserin (100 microg/kg). One-minute (1-min) intracarotid (i.c.) infusions of 5-HT (0.1-10 microg/min), 5-carboxamidotryptamine (5-CT; 0.01-0.3 microg/min), 5-methoxytryptamine (5-MeO-T; 1-100 microg/min) and acetylcholine (ACh; 0.003-0.1 microg/min) resulted in dose-dependent increases in internal carotid blood flow (without changes in blood pressure or heart rate) with a rank order of agonist potency of ACh > 5-CT >> 5-HT > or =5-MeO-T. The internal carotid vasodilator responses to 5-HT, 5-CT and 5-MeO-T, which remained unaffected after saline (0.03 ml/kg and 0.1 ml/kg, i.v.), were specifically and dose-dependently blocked by i.v. administration of lisuride (10 microg/kg and 30 microg/kg), clozapine (1000 microg/kg), mesulergine (300 microg/kg and 1000 microg/kg) and LY215840 (300 microg/kg and 1000 microg/kg) with the following apparent rank order of potency: lisuride >> mesulergine = LY215840 > or = clozapine. The above results suggest that the 5-HT receptor mediating internal carotid vasodilatation in vagosympathectomized dogs pretreated with GR127935 and ritanserin is operationally similar to other 5-HT7 receptors mediating vascular and non-vascular responses.

5-HT receptors mediating external carotid vasoconstriction in vagosympathectomized dogs

One specific example reflecting the complexity of cardiovascular responses induced by serotonin (5-hydroxytryptamine; 5-HT) and the progress achieved in the pharmacological characterization of the receptors involved can be illustrated by the effects of 5-HT on the canine external carotid artery bed. Within this framework, it has been shown that the external carotid vasoconstrictor response to 5-HT in the dog is mediated by '5-HT1-like' receptors, which being blocked by the 5-HT1B/1D receptor antagonist GR127935, resemble 5-HT1B/1D (previously called 5-HT1D beta/1D alpha) receptors. It was proposed that these receptors could belong to the 5-HT1B, rather than the 5-HT1D, subtype on the basis of their resistance to blockade by a high dose of ritanserin (a potential 5-HT1D receptor antagonist) and the presence of mRNA for 5-HT1B(5-HT1D beta) receptors, but not for 5-HT1D(5-HT1D alpha) receptors, in vascular smooth muscle. With the advent of subtype-selective antagonists it was subsequently shown that external carotid vasoconstriction to 5-HT and sumatriptan is dose-dependently antagonized by the selective 5-HT1B receptor antagonist SB224289 (2,3,6,7-tetrahydro-1'-methyl-5-[2'-methyl-4' (5-methyl-1,2,4-oxadiazol-3-yl) biphenyl-4-carbonyl] furo [2,3-f] indole-3-spiro-4'-piperidine hydrochloride), whereas the selective 5-HT1D receptor antagonist BRL15572 (1-(3-chlorophenyl)-4-[3,3-diphenyl (2-(S,R) hydroxypropanyl) piperazine] hydrochloride) was ineffective. These findings represent the first in vivo evidence showing that vascular constriction induced by 5-HT and sumatriptan is mediated primarily via 5-HT1B, but not 5-HT1D receptors. The pharmacological profile of these receptors could be similar (isolated human temporal artery and porcine carotid arteriovenous anastomoses) to other putative 5-HT1B receptors mediating vasoconstrictor responses. In view of the putative pathophysiologic role of external carotid (and extracerebral) vasodilation in migraine, the constriction of these blood vessels by sumatriptan via 5-HT1B receptors may be, at least partly, responsible for its therapeutic efficacy in migraine.

5-Hydroxytryptamine inhibits the tachycardia induced by selective preganglionic sympathetic stimulation in pithed rats

It has been shown in several species that serotonin (5-hydroxytryptamine; 5-HT) is able to inhibit the responses produced by sympathetic stimulation in a wide variety of blood vessels and other organs, including the heart. However, in pithed rats, the analysis of potential sympatho-inhibitory actions of 5-HT is hampered by the fact that 5-HT (given as i.v. bolus injections) produces tachycardia per se. Moreover, most studies have investigated 5-HT-induced sympatho-inhibition at only one frequency of stimulation. Thus, the present study set out to find the experimental conditions to overcome these problems. In this regard, we analyzed the potential ability of 5-HT, administered as i.v. continuous infusions, to inhibit the tachycardia caused by stimulation of the preganglionic (C7-T1) sympathetic outflow in pithed rats. Sympathetic cardiostimulation (0.01-3 Hz) resulted in frequency-dependent increases in heart rate; these responses were potentiated after desipramine (50 microg/kg, i.v.). During continuous infusions of 5-HT (3.1-10 microg/kg.min, i.v.), but not saline, the sympathetically-induced tachycardia was dose-dependently inhibited in both control and desipramine-pretreated rats. This inhibitory effect of 5-HT was significantly more pronounced at lower frequencies of stimulation. In contrast, the above infusions of 5-HT did not inhibit the tachycardia induced by i.v. bolus injections of noradrenaline in both control and desipramine-pretreated rats. Taken together, the above findings confirm that 5-HT induces inhibition of the sympathetic chronotropic outflow in the rat by acting at receptors located prejunctionally, without evoking tachycardia, over a wide range of stimulation frequencies.

Canine external carotid vasoconstriction to methysergide, ergotamine and dihydroergotamine: role of 5-HT1B/1D receptors and alpha2-adrenoceptors

The antimigraine drugs methysergide, ergotamine and dihydroergotamine (DHE) produce selective vasoconstriction in the external carotid bed of vagosympathectomized dogs anaesthetized with pentobarbital and artificially respired, but the receptors involved have not yet been completely characterized. Since the above drugs display affinity for several binding sites, including alpha-adrenoceptors and several 5-HT1 and 5-HT2 receptor subtypes, this study has analysed the mechanisms involved in the above responses. Intracarotid (i.c.) infusions during 1 min of methysergide (31-310 microg min(-1)), ergotamine (0.56-5.6 microg min(-1)) or DHE (5.6-31 microg min(-1)) dose-dependently reduced external carotid blood flow (ECBF) by up to 46+/-4, 37+/-4 and 49+/-5%, respectively. Blood pressure and heart rate remained unchanged. The reductions in ECBF by methysergide were abolished and even reversed to increases in animals pre-treated with GR127935 (10 microg kg(-1), i.v.). The reductions in ECBF by ergotamine and DHE remained unchanged in animals pre-treated (i.v.) with prazosin (300 microg kg(-1)), but were partly antagonized in animals pre-treated with either GR127935 (10 or 30 microg kg(-1)) or yohimbine (1000 microg kg(-1)). Pre-treatment with a combination of GR127935 (30 microg kg(-1)) and yohimbine (1000 microg kg(-1)) abolished the responses to both ergotamine and DHE. The above doses of antagonists were shown to produce selective antagonism at their respective receptors. These results suggest that the external carotid vasoconstrictor responses to methysergide primarily involve 5-HT1B/1D receptors, whereas those to ergotamine and DHE are mediated by 5-HT1B/1D receptors as well as alpha2-adrenoceptors.

The canine external carotid vasoconstrictor 5-HT1 receptor: blockade by 5-HT1B (SB224289), but not by 5-HT1D (BRL15572) receptor antagonists

In vagosympathectomised dogs pre-treated intravenously (i.v.) with mesulergine (300 microg/kg), 1-min intracarotid (i.c.) infusions of 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT; 0.3-30 microg/min) and sumatriptan (1-30 microg/min) dose-dependently decreased external carotid blood flow, without affecting mean blood pressure or heart rate. Treatment with the selective 5-HT1B receptor antagonist SB224289 (2,3,6,7-tetrahydro-1'-methyl-5-[2'-methyl-4'(5-methyl-1,2,4-oxadiazo l-3-yl) biphenyl-4-carbonyl]furo[2,3f]indole-3-spiro-4'-piperidine hydrochloride; 30-300 microg/kg, i.v.) produced a potent, specific and dose-dependent blockade of this response, whereas the selective 5-HT1D receptor antagonist BRL15572 (1-(3-chlorophenyl)-4-[3,3-diphenyl(2-(S,R) hydroxypropanyl)piperazine]hydrochloride; 30-300 microg/kg, i.v.) was ineffective. It is concluded that mainly 5-HT1B, but not 5-HT1D receptors mediate the canine external carotid vasoconstriction by 5-HT and sumatriptan.

The 5-HT1-like receptors mediating inhibition of sympathetic vasopressor outflow in the pithed rat: operational correlation with the 5-HT1A, 5-HT1B and 5-HT1D subtypes

1. It has been suggested that the inhibition of sympathetically-induced vasopressor responses produced by 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) in pithed rats is mediated by 5-HT1-like receptors. The present study has re-analysed this suggestion with regard to the classification schemes recently proposed by the NC-IUPHAR subcommittee on 5-HT receptors. 2. Intravenous (i.v.) continuous infusions of 5-HT and the 5-HT1 receptor agonists, 8-OH-DPAT (5-HT1A), indorenate (5-HT1A), CP 93,129 (5-HT1B) and sumatriptan (5-HT(1B/1D)), resulted in a dose-dependent inhibition of sympathetically-induced vasopressor responses. 3. The sympatho-inhibitory responses induced by 5-HT, 8-OH-DPAT, indorenate, CP 93,129 or sumatriptan were analysed before and after i.v. treatment with blocking doses of the putative 5-HT receptor antagonists, WAY 100635 (5-HT1A), cyanopindolol (5-HT(1A/1B)) or GR 127935 (5-HT(1B/1D)). Thus, after WAY 100635, the responses to 5-HT and indorenate, but not to 8-OH-DPAT, CP 93,129 and sumatriptan, were blocked. After cyanopindolol, the responses to 5-HT, indorenate and CP 93,129 were abolished, whilst those to 8-OH-DPAT and sumatriptan (except at the lowest frequency of stimulation) remained unaltered. In contrast, after GR 127935, the responses to 5-HT, CP 93,129 and sumatriptan, but not to 8-OH-DPAT and indorenate, were abolished. 4. In additional experiments, the inhibition induced by 5-HT was not modified after 5-HT7 receptor blocking doses of mesulergine. 5. The above results suggest that the 5-HT1-like receptors, which inhibit the sympathetic vasopressor outflow in pithed rats, display the pharmacological profile of the 5-HT1A, 5-HT1B and 5-HT1D, but not that of 5-HT7, receptors.

Mediation of 5-HT-induced external carotid vasodilatation in GR 127935-pretreated vagosympathectomized dogs by the putative 5-HT7 receptor

1. The vasodilator effects of 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) in the external carotid bed of anaesthetized dogs with intact sympathetic tone are mediated by prejunctional sympatho-inhibitory 5-HT1B/1D receptors and postjunctional 5-HT receptors. The prejunctional vasodilator mechanism is abolished after vagosympathectomy which results in the reversal of the vasodilator effect to vasoconstriction. The blockade of this vasoconstrictor effect of 5-HT with the 5-HT1B/1D receptor antagonist, GR 127935, unmasks a dose-dependent vasodilator effect of 5-HT, but not of sumatriptan. Therefore, the present study set out to analyse the pharmacological profile of this postjunctional vasodilator 5-HT receptor in the external carotid bed of vagosympathectomized dogs pretreated with GR 127935 (20 micrograms kg-1, i.v.). 2. One-minute intracarotid (i.c.) infusions of 5-HT (0.3-30 micrograms min-1), 5-carboxamidotryptamine (5-CT; 0.01-0.3 microgram min-1), 5-methoxytryptamine (1-100 micrograms min-1) and lisuride (3-1000 micrograms min-1) resulted in dose-dependent increases in external carotid blood flow (without changes in blood pressure or heart rate) with a rank order of agonist potency of 5-CT > > 5-HT > or = 5-methoxytryptamine > lisuride, whereas cisapride (100-1000 micrograms min-1, i.c.) was practically inactive. Interestingly, lisuride (mean dose of 85 +/- 7 micrograms kg-1, i.c.), but not cisapride (mean dose of 67 +/- 7 micrograms kg-1, i.c.), specifically abolished the responses induced by 5-HT, 5-CT and 5-methoxytryptamine, suggesting that a common site of action may be involved. In contrast, 1 min i.c. infusions of 8-OH-DPAT (3-3000 micrograms min-1) produced dose-dependent decreases, not increases, in external carotid blood flow and failed to antagonize (mean dose of 200 +/- 33 micrograms kg-1, i.c.) the agonist-induced vasodilator responses. 3. The external carotid vasodilator responses to 5-HT, 5-CT and 5-methoxytryptamine were not modified by intravenous (i.v.) pretreatment with either saline, (+/-)-pindolol (4 mg kg-1) or ritanserin (100 micrograms kg-1) plus granisetron (300 micrograms kg-1), but were dose-dependently blocked by i.v. administration of methiothepin (10 and 30 micrograms kg-1, given after ritanserin plus granisetron), mesulergine (10 and 30 micrograms kg-1), metergoline (1 and 3 mg kg-1), methysergide (1 and 3 mg kg-1) or clozapine (0.3 and 1 mg kg-1). Nevertheless, the blockade of the above responses, not significant after treatment with the lower of the two doses of metergoline and mesulergine, was nonspecific after administration of the higher of the two doses of methysergide and clozapine. 4. Based upon the above rank order of agonist potencies and the antagonism produced by a series of drugs showing high affinity for the cloned 5-ht7 receptor, our results indicate that the 5-HT receptor mediating external carotid vasodilatation in GR 127935-pretreated vagosympathectomized dogs is operationally similar to the putative 5-HT7 receptor mediating relaxation of vascular and non-vascular smooth muscles (e.g. rabbit femoral vein, canine coronary artery, rat systemic vasculature and guinea-pig ileum) as well as tachycardia in the cat.

Operational characteristics of the 5-HT1-like receptors mediating external carotid vasoconstriction in vagosympathectomized dogs. Close resemblance to the 5-HT1D receptor subtype

It has recently been shown that the external carotid vasoconstrictor response to 5-HT in the dog is primarily mediated by sumatriptan-sensitive 5-HT1-like receptors; however, the fact that these receptors are not blocked by metergoline, a 5-HT1D ligand, raises questions about their possible correlation with the 5-HT1D receptor subtype. Since a number of drugs display high affinity for the 5-HT1D (GR127935) and 5-HT1F (e.g. methysergide and oxymetazoline) receptor subtypes, in this study we have used these drugs to determine whether the above vasoconstrictor 5-HT1-like receptors correlate with the 5-HT1D and/or 5-HT1F receptor subtypes. One-minute intracarotid infusions of 5-HT (0.3-30 micrograms/min), sumatriptan (1-30 micrograms/min), oxymetazoline (0.03-3 micrograms/min) and noradrenaline (0.3-3 micrograms/min) resulted in dose-dependent decreases in external carotid blood flow without changes in arterial blood pressure or heart rate. These vasoconstrictor responses remained unaltered after i.v. administration of physiological saline (0.015, 0.05 and 0.15 ml/kg; n = 4) or ritanserin (1 mg/kg; n = 5). In contrast, GR127935 (1, 3 and 10 micrograms/kg, n = 6) potently blocked the responses to 5-HT (unmasking a dose-dependent vasodilator component) and sumatriptan without affecting those to oxymetazoline or noradrenaline. Interestingly, methysergide (10, 30 and 100 micrograms/kg, n = 5) also blocked the vasoconstrictor responses to 5-HT and sumatriptan, but unlike GR127935, did not revert the vasoconstrictor response to 5-HT; the responses to oxymetazoline remained unaffected, but those to noradrenaline were apparently attenuated by the highest dose. Taken together, the above findings suggest that the sumatriptan-sensitive 5-HT1-like receptors mediating canine external carotid vasoconstriction resemble 5-HT1D receptors, probably of the 5-HT1D beta subtype on the basis of the resistance to blockade by ritanserin. The pharmacological profile of these receptors could be similar (bovine and human cerebral arteries, porcine carotid arteriovenous anastomoses and human coronary arteries) to other putative 5-HT1D receptors mediating vascular responses.