Monoaminergic Receptors as Modulators of the Perivascular Sympathetic and Sensory CGRPergic Outflows

Blood pressure is a highly controlled cardiovascular parameter that normally guarantees an adequate blood supply to all body tissues. This parameter is mainly regulated by peripheral vascular resistance and is maintained by local mediators (i.e., autacoids), and by the nervous and endocrine systems. Regarding the nervous system, blood pressure can be modulated at the central level by regulating the autonomic output. However, at peripheral level, there exists a modulation by activation of prejunctional monoaminergic receptors in autonomic- or sensory-perivascular fibers. These modulatory mechanisms on resistance blood vessels exert an effect on the release of neuroactive substances from the autonomic or sensory fibers that modify blood pressure. Certainly, resistance blood vessels are innervated by perivascular: (i) autonomic sympathetic fibers (producing vasoconstriction mainly by noradrenaline release); and (ii) peptidergic sensory fibers [producing vasodilatation mainly by calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) release]. In the last years, by using pithed rats, several monoaminergic mechanisms for controlling both the sympathetic and sensory perivascular outflows have been elucidated. Additionally, several studies have shown the functions of many monoaminergic auto-receptors and hetero-receptors expressed on perivascular fibers that modulate neurotransmitter release. On this basis, the present review: (i) summarizes the modulation of the peripheral vascular tone by adrenergic, serotoninergic, dopaminergic, and histaminergic receptors on perivascular autonomic (sympathetic) and sensory fibers, and (ii) highlights that these monoaminergic receptors are potential therapeutic targets for the development of novel medications to treat cardiovascular diseases (with some of them explored in clinical trials or already in clinical use).

Blocking properties of terguride at the 5-HT2 receptor subtypes mediating cardiovascular responses in the rat

In vitro studies have suggested that terguride blocks the contractile and relaxant responses produced by 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) via 5-HT2A/2B receptors. This study has now investigated terguride’s blocking properties on central/peripheral 5-HT2 receptors in anaesthetized or pithed rats. Male Wistar anaesthetized/pithed rats were cannulated for recording blood pressure and heart rate and for i.v. administration of several compounds. In both groups of rats, i.v. bolus injections of 5-HT or (±)-DOI (a 5-HT2 receptor agonist; 1–1000 μg/kg) produced dose-dependent increases in diastolic blood pressure and heart rate. These responses were dose-dependently antagonized by terguride (10–3000 μg/kg). In anaesthetized rats, i.v. bolus injections of BW723C86 (a 5-HT2B receptor agonist; 1–1000 μg/kg) produced dose-dependent increases in diastolic blood pressure and not dose-dependent increases in heart rate, while in pithed rats, these responses were attenuated. The vasopressor responses elicited by BW723C86 in anaesthetized rats were dose-dependently blocked by terguride (10–300 μg/kg), whereas its the tachycardic responses were dose-independently blocked. These results, taken together, suggest that terguride behaved as an antagonist at the 5-HT2 receptors located in the central nervous system and (or) the systemic vasculature. This is the first evidence demonstrating that terguride can block central/peripheral 5-HT2 receptors mediating cardiovascular responses in anaesthetized or pithed rats.

Exclusive Peripheral Overexpression of 5-HT5A Receptors is Involved in 5‑HT‑Induced Cardiac Sympatho-Inhibition in Type 1 Diabetic Rats

Background: In normoglycaemic pithed rats, cardiac sympathetic control is modulated by serotonin (5-hydroxytryptamine; 5‑HT), which inhibits the cardioaccelerator sympathetic outflow via the activation of 5-HT 1B , 5-HT 1D and 5-HT 5A receptors. Notwithstanding, type 1 diabetes impairs the functionality of the cardiac sympathetic innervation and leads to cardiovascular complications including cardiac autonomic neuropathy. On this basis, the present study investigated whether the influence of 5-HT on cardiac noradrenergic neurotransmission is altered in type 1 diabetic rats, by analysing the profile of the 5-HT receptors involved and their peripheral expression. Methods: Type 1 diabetes was induced in male Wistar rats with a single injection of streptozotocin (50 mg/kg, i.p.). Four weeks later, the rats were anaesthetized, pithed and prepared for producing tachycardic responses by either electrical preganglionic stimulation (C 7 ‑T 1 ) of the cardioaccelerator sympathetic outflow or i.v. bolus injections of exogenous noradrenaline. Immunohistochemistry analyses were performed to study the expression of 5‑HT 1B , 5-HT 1D and 5-HT 5A receptors in the stellate (sympathetic) ganglion obtained from normoglycaemic and diabetic rats. Results: The increases in heart rate evoked by both cardiac sympathetic stimulation and exogenous noradrenaline were not modified after saline in diabetic rats. Moreover, i.v. continuous infusions of 5‑HT induced a cardiac sympatho-inhibition that was mimicked by the 5‑HT 1/5A receptor agonist 5‑carboxamidotryptamine, but not by the agonists indorenate (5-HT 1A ), CP 93,129 (5‑HT 1B ), PNU 142633 (5-HT 1D ), or LY344864 (5‑HT 1F ) in the diabetic group. In contrast, the above agonists at 5-HT 1B , 5-HT 1D and 5-HT 1/5A receptors mimicked 5-HT-induced sympatho-inhibition in normoglycaemic rats. In diabetic animals, i.v. administration of SB 699551 (1 mg/kg; 5‑HT 5A receptor antagonist) abolished 5‑CT-induced cardiac sympatho-inhibition. Finally, the immunohistochemistry analysis in the stellate ganglion showed that, as compared to normoglycaemic rats, in diabetic rats (P<0.05): (i) the expression of 5-HT 1B receptors was slightly higher, whereas that of 5-HT 1D receptors was slightly lower; and (ii) there was a clear overexpression of 5-HT 5A receptors. Conclusions: Taken together, these results show the prominent role of the peripheral overexpression of prejunctional 5-HT 5A receptors in the inhibition of the cardiac sympathetic drive in type 1 diabetic rats. These findings may represent a new pharmacological strategy for the treatment of diabetes-related cardiac abnormalities.

Anti-Anaphylactic Activity of Isoquercitrin (Quercetin-3-O-β-d-Glucose) in the Cardiovascular System of Animals

Effects of isoquercitrin (IQ) on anaphylactic responses were examined in cardiovascular systems of experimental animals. In pithed rats, IQ at 30 and 100 mg/kg (intravenous) significantly blunted both the initial hypertensive and the ensuing hypotensive responses during anaphylaxis. Death rate and tachycardia were also significantly inhibited after the same IQ doses in these rats. In isolated guinea pig hearts, IQ infusion at 30–100 μg/mL markedly reduced anaphylaxis-related coronary flow decrease, contractile force change, and heart rate responses (both tachycardia and arrhythmia). Cardiac histamine and creatine kinase releases were similarly diminished by IQ during anaphylaxis in the isolated guinea pig hearts. In two different isolated guinea pig vasculatures, the pulmonary artery and mesenteric arterial bed, anaphylactic vasoconstriction was reduced by IQ 30 and 100 μg/mL. It was observed that IQ had a marked inhibitory effect on histamine release from rat mast cells, and this mechanism was suggested as the major anti-anaphylactic mechanism. Direct inhibition of histamine-induced muscle contraction did not seem to be relevant, but IQ treatment successfully repressed intracellular calcium influx/depletion in mast cells. Overall, this study provided evidence for the beneficial effect of IQ on cardiac anaphylaxis, thus suggesting its potential applications in the treatment and prevention of related diseases.

Fluoxetine oral treatment discloses 5-HT1D receptor as vagoinhibitor of the cardiac cholinergic neurotransmission in rat

Although depression and cardiovascular diseases are related, the role of antidepressants such as fluoxetine (increasing serotonin levels) within cardiac regulation remains unclear. We aimed to determine whether fluoxetine modifies the pharmacological profile of serotonergic influence on vagal cardiac outflow. Rats were treated with fluoxetine (10 mg/kg per day; p.o.) for 14 days or equivalent volumes of drinking water (control group); then, they were pithed and prepared for vagal stimulation. Bradycardic responses were obtained by electrical stimulation of the vagal fibers (3, 6, and 9 Hz) or i.v. acetylcholine (ACh; 1, 5, and 10 μg/kg). The i.v. administration of 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT; 10 and 50 μg/kg) inhibited the vagally induced bradycardia. 5-CT (5-HT1/7 agonist) and L-694,247 (5-HT1D agonist) mimicked the serotonin inhibitory effect while α-methyl-5-HT (5-HT2 agonist) was devoid of any action. SB269970 (5-HT7 antagonist) did not abolish 5-CT inhibitory action on the electrically induced bradycardia. Pretreatment with LY310762 (5-HT1D antagonist) blocked the effects induced by L-694,247 and 5-CT. 5-HT and 5-CT failed to modify the bradycardia induced by exogenous ACh. Our outcomes suggest that fluoxetine treatment modifies 5-HT modulation on heart parasympathetic neurotransmission in rats, evoking inhibition of the bradycardia via prejunctional 5-HT1D in pithed rats.