Ae. Calogero et al., ROLE FOR SEROTONIN(3) RECEPTORS IN THE CONTROL OF ADRENOCORTICOTROPICHORMONE-RELEASE FROM RAT PITUITARY CELL-CULTURES, European journal of endocrinology, 133(2), 1995, pp. 251-254
Although several serotonin (5-HT) receptor types have been shown capab
le of stimulating the release of adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) fr
om the pituitary gland, relatively little is known about the role of t
he 5-HT3 receptor, a receptor that has generated a great deal of inter
est for its involvement in many behavioral and therapeutic effects. He
nce, in this study, we tested the effects of the 5-HT3/4 receptor anta
gonist 3-tropanyl-indole-3-carboxylate (ICS 205-930) and the selective
5-HT3 receptor antagonist 3-tropanyl-3,5-dichlorobenzoate (MDL 72222)
on ACTH release stimulated by 5-HT from primary cultures of rat pitui
tary cells. Subsequently, we evaluated the effects of the selective 5-
HT3 receptor agonist 1-(m-chlorophenyl)-biguanide (m-CPBG) on basal, c
orticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH)- and arginine vasopressin (AVP)-s
timulated ACTH release. The maximal stimulatory effect of 5-HT (10(-9)
mol/l) on ACTH release was antagonized by both ICS 205-930 and MDL 72
222, suggesting that 5-HT stimulates basal ACTH release through activa
tion of 5-HT3 receptors. Accordingly, m-CPBG stimulated basal ACTH rel
ease in a concentration-dependent fashion. In contrast to 5-HT, m-CPBG
did not have any effect on CRH-stimulated ACTH release and inhibited
AVP-stimulated ACTH release in a concentration-dependent manner. These
data suggest that the 5-HT3 receptor is involved in the release of AC
TH from the pituitary gland in vitro.