Serotonin and the control of ventilation in awake rats.

Abstract

In awake, unrestrained, intact rats, reserpine, para-chlorophenylalanine, 6-fluorotryptophan, and para-chloroamphetamine depleted whole brain serotonin and produced a substantial and sustained hyperventilation as evidenced by a 5--9 torr drop in PaCO2. Administration of 5-hydroxytryptophan to rats treated with para-chlorophenylalanine partially alleviated the hyperventilation. No change in ventilation was observed after alpha-methyltyrosine. 5,7-Dihydroxytryptamine produced contradictory results. On the basis of these pharmacological studies, we propose that some serotonin-mediated nerve transmissions might function under physiological conditions to inhibit the central nervous system output which controls normal breathing.

• Authors: E B Olson Jr, J A Dempsey, D R McCrimmon
• Journal: The Journal of clinical investigation (J Clin Invest) Vol. 64 Issue 2 Pg. 689-93 (Aug 1979) ISSN: 0021-9738 [Print] United States
• PMID: 156738 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S., Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.)

Chemical References

• Methyltyrosines
• 5,7-Dihydroxytryptamine
• Serotonin
• p-Chloroamphetamine
• Reserpine
• Tryptophan
• Fenclonine
• Dopamine
• Norepinephrine

Topics

• 5,7-Dihydroxytryptamine (pharmacology)
• Animals
• Brain (metabolism)
• Dopamine (metabolism)
• Fenclonine (pharmacology)
• Hyperventilation (physiopathology)
• Male
• Methyltyrosines (pharmacology)
• Norepinephrine (metabolism)
• Rats
• Reserpine (pharmacology)
• Respiration (drug effects)
• Serotonin (metabolism, pharmacology, physiology)
• Tryptophan (analogs & derivatives, pharmacology)
• p-Chloroamphetamine (pharmacology)