Serotonin excites neurons in the human submucous plexus via 5-HT3 receptors.
BACKGROUND & AIMS: Serotonin (5-hydroxytryptamine [5-HT]) is a key signaling molecule in the gut. Recently, the neural 5-HT3 receptor received a lot of attention as a possible target in functional bowel diseases. Yet, the 5-HT3 receptor-mediated changes in properties of human enteric neurons is unknown. METHODS: We used a fast imaging technique in combination with the potentiometric dye 1-(3-sulfonatopropyl)-4-[beta[2-(di-n-octylamino)-6-naphthyl]vinyl]pyridinium betaine to monitor directly the membrane potential changes in neurons of human submucous plexus from surgical specimens of 21 patients. An Ussing chamber technique was used to study 5-HT3 receptor involvement in chloride secretion. RESULTS: Local microejection of 5-HT directly onto ganglion cells resulted in a transient excitation of enteric neurons characterized by increased spike discharge. This response was mimicked by the 5-HT3 receptor agonist, 2-methyl-5-HT, and blocked by the 5-HT3 receptor antagonist, tropisetron. The proportions of 5-HT-responsive nerve cells per ganglion ranged from 25.5% +/- 18.4% in the duodenum to 54.2% +/- 46.9% in the colon. Interestingly, 2-methyl-5-HT did not evoke chloride secretion in the human intestine but it did in the guinea-pig intestine. Specific 5-HT3A and 5-HT3B receptor subunit immunoreactivity as well as 5-HT3A and 5-HT3B receptor-specific messenger RNA were detected in the tissue samples. Based on co-labeling with the pan-neuronal marker HuC/D we conclude that submucous nerve cells potentially express heteromeric 5-HT3A/B receptors. CONCLUSIONS: We show that 5-HT excited human enteric neurons via 5-HT3 receptors, which may comprise both 5-HT3A and 5-HT3B receptor subunits.[1]References
- Serotonin excites neurons in the human submucous plexus via 5-HT3 receptors. Michel, K., Zeller, F., Langer, R., Nekarda, H., Kruger, D., Dover, T.J., Brady, C.A., Barnes, N.M., Schemann, M. Gastroenterology (2005) [Pubmed]
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