Characterization of 5-hydroxytryptamine receptors in rat stomach fundus.

1-Arylpiperazines (MK-212, quipazine, m-chlorophenylpiperazine and m-trifluoromethylphenylpiperazine) caused a serotonin (5-HT) receptor-mediated contraction of rat fundic strips. m-chlorophenylpiperazine and m-trifluoromethylphenylpiperazine had high affinity for the receptor but little efficacy, whereas quipazine and MK-212 had lesser affinity and much greater efficacy. 5-HT itself was the most potent (EC50 = 6-9 nM) agonist and possessed the greatest affinity (KA = 9.7 nM). Assessment of receptor occupancy vs. functional response (as well as receptor alkylation studies) demonstrated a very small, if any, receptor reserve in this tissue. Several arylquinolizines were found to be competitive antagonists of 5-HT-induced contraction, the most potent being L-653,267 and rauwolscine (KB values = 1.9 and 3.8 nM). Clozapine, trazodone and propranolol were identified as less potent, competitive antagonists, whereas various ergolines (including LY 53857), L-646,462 (cyproheptadine analog) and mianserin were noncompetitive. Potent 5-HT2 receptor antagonists (pirenpirone and ketanserin) antagonized only weakly or were without effect against 5-HT, indicating that the fundic 5-HT receptor is not of the 5-HT2 subtype. Because the fundic receptor has high affinity for 5-HT (as does the 5-HT1 binding site in brain tissue), the possible correspondence of the fundic 5-HT receptor with the 5-HT1 recognition site in rat brain cortex was considered. 5-HT, the nonindole agonists (1-arylpiperazines) and the competitive antagonists all competed with [3H]-5-HT for the 5-HT1 site. However, all compounds except 5-HT had Hill slopes significantly less than 1.0, precluding a valid comparison with dissociation constants derived pharmacologically in the fundus. With respect to having a high affinity for 5-HT, the 5-HT receptor mediating contraction of fundic smooth muscle resembles the 5-HT1 recognition site (as defined in brain tissue by radioligand binding), but identity remains unproven.