Inhibition of noradrenaline release from the sympathetic nerves of the human saphenous vein via presynaptic 5-HT receptors similar to the 5-HT 1D subtype.

The human saphenous vein preincubated with [3H]noradrenaline was used to determine the pharmacological properties of the release-inhibiting presynaptic serotonin (5-HT) receptor on the sympathetic nerves. The overflow of tritium evoked by transmural electrical stimulation (2 Hz) was concentration-dependently inhibited by drugs known to stimulate 5-HT receptors in the following rank order: oxymetazoline greater than or equal to 5-HT greater than 5-carboxamidotryptamine = 5-methoxytryptamine = sumatriptan greater than tryptamine greater than N,N(CH3)2-5-HT = yohimbine = 8-hydroxy-2-(di-n-propylamino)-tetraline. The potencies of these agonists in inhibiting overflow were significantly correlated with their affinities for 5-HT1B and 5-HT1D binding sites, but not with those for 5-HT1A or 5-HT1C binding sites. 5-Aminotryptamine, methysergide, ipsapirone, cyanopindolol, SDZ 21009 and metergoline dit not produce a significant inhibition. Metitepine and methysergide antagonized the inhibitory effect of 5-HT, whereas spiroxatrine, propranolol, ketanserin and ICS 205-930 did not. These data exclude the idea that the inhibitory presynaptic 5-HT receptor on the sympathetic nerves belongs to the 5-HT2 and 5-HT3 receptor class; the pattern of agonist potencies suggests that the receptor is very similar to the 5-HT1D receptor subtype.