(1) On the basis of previous findings that
cannabinoids inhibit the function of human and rat 5-HT(3) receptors in vitro, we investigated whether
cannabinoid receptor agonists also modulate the activity of the rat peripheral 5-HT(3) receptors on the terminals of cardiopulmonary afferent C-fibres in vivo. (2) In
urethane-anaesthetized rats, pre-treated intravenously (i.v.) with the CB(1) receptor antagonist
SR 141716A (3 micro mol kg(-1)) and with the beta(1)/beta(2)
adrenoceptor antagonist
propranolol (0.3-0.4 micro mol kg(-1)), bolus injection of the
serotonin 5-HT(3) receptor agonist
phenylbiguanide (3-10 micro g kg(-1), i.v.) or the vanilloid
VR1 receptor agonist
capsaicin (3-10 micro g kg(-1), i.v.) caused an immediate decrease in heart rate and mean arterial blood pressure (the von Bezold-Jarisch reflex). (3) The
phenylbiguanide-induced
bradycardia was dose-dependently attenuated by the
cannabinoid receptor agonists CP 55,940 (0.1-1 micro mol kg(-1), i.v.) and
WIN 55,212-2 (0.1-3 micro mol kg(-1), i.v.) 20 min after injection, but not by the inactive S-(-)enantiomer of the latter,
WIN 55,212-3 (1 micro mol kg(-1), i.v.). The inhibition was reversible within 30 min. The extent of inhibition by the highest doses of
cannabinoid receptor agonists amounted to about 50%. Both
cannabinoid receptor agonists failed to affect the
capsaicin-evoked
bradycardia. (4) In conclusion, our results demonstrate that
cannabinoid receptor agonists modulate the von Bezold-Jarisch reflex by inhibiting peripheral
serotonin 5-HT(3) receptors in rats in vivo. An analogous mechanism of
cannabinoid receptor agonists may be assumed to be involved in other
serotonin 5-HT(3) receptor-mediated responses.