Functions of peripheral 5-hydroxytryptamine receptors, especially 5-hydroxytryptamine(4) receptor, in gastrointestinal motility

The multiple 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT, serotonin) receptor subtypes are di stinguished. In this article, we described mainly the 5-HT4 receptor of fou r subtypes of functional 5-HT receptors, 5-HT1, 5-HT2, 5-HT3, and 5-HT4, re cognized in the gastrointestinal tract. In-vivo microdialysis experiments d etermined that activation of the 5-HT4 receptor stimulated intestinal motor activity associated with a local increase in acetylcholine (ACh) release f rom the intestinal cholinergic neurons in the whole body of dogs. The 5-HT4 receptor-mediated response of ACh release in the antral, corporal, and fun dic strips isolated from guinea pig stomach corresponds to the presence of 5-HT4 receptor in the myenteric plexus. In-vitro receptor autoradiograms of the stomach and colon indicate that the distribution of 5-HT4 receptors in human tissues is similar to that in the guinea pig, although density of 5- HT4 receptors in the myenteric plexus of human tissues is lower than that i n guinea pig tissues. The 5-HT4 receptors located in the myenteric plexus m ay participate in gastrointestinal motility, and thus the 5-HT4 agonists an d antagonists may be available for treatment of dysfunction of gastrointest inal motility.