P. Broqua et al., ARE 5-HT1A AUTORECEPTORS INVOLVED IN THE INHIBITORY EFFECT OF IPSAPIRONE ON COLD-ELICITED THYROTROPIN SECRETION, Neuroendocrinology, 57(4), 1993, pp. 640-647
Administration of the serotonin (5-HT)1A receptor agonist ipsapirone h
as been shown to decrease cold-elicited thyrotropin (TSH) secretion. W
e have analyzed (1) the influence of 5-HT1A receptors and ipsapirone m
etabolism into 1-(2-pyrimidinyl)-piperazine (I-PP, an alpha2-adrenocep
tor antagonist) on the effect of ipsapirone on TSH release, and (2) th
e interaction between the corticosterone-releasing effect of ipsapiron
e and its inhibitory influence on TSH release. Pretreatment with proad
ifen (50 mg/kg, 5 h before ipsapirone), i.e. an inhibitor of ipsapiron
e metabolism into 1-PP, did not affect ipsapirone-induced inhibition o
f cold-elicited TSH secretion. Pretreatment (15 min before ipsapirone)
with the 5-HT1/5-HT2 receptor antagonist metergoline 2 mg/kg) or with
the 5-HT1A receptor blocker (-)-pindolol (5 mg/kg) increased baseline
and cold-elicited TSH release but the inhibitory influence of ipsapir
one on cold-elicited TSH release was alleviated by (-)-pindolol pretre
atment only. Cold exposure increased corticosterone release, an effect
which was insensitive to (-)-pindolol pretreatment. Lastly, pretreatm
ent with the 5-HT synthesis inhibitor p-chlorophenylalanine prevented
the immediate inhibitory effect of the selective 5-HT1A receptor agoni
st 8-hydroxy-2-(di-n-propylamino)tetralin (8-OH-DPAT) upon cold-induce
d TSH release, but it amplified the late release of TSH in cold-expose
d 8-OH-DPAT-injected rats. These results suggest that presynaptic 5-HT
1A receptors mediate ipsapirone-induced inhibition of cold-elicited TS
H release, an effect which may be partially opposed by postsynaptic 5-
HT1A receptor stimulation.