Antagonism of L-5-hydroxytryptophan-induced head twitching in rats by lisuride: a mixed 5-hydroxytryptamine agonist-antagonist?

Lisuride antagonized L-5-hydroxytryptophan (5-HTP)-induced head twitches at doses lower than those sufficient to induce the serotonin (5-HT) syndrome. Among several other 5-HT agonists tested, only LSD and 1-(m-trifluoromethylphenyl)-piperazine (TFMPP) shared this paradoxical profile. Assessment of various dopamine (DA) agonists revealed a lack of correlation between DA-mediated stereotyped behavior (indicative of postsynaptic DA agonism) and blockade of 5-HTP-induced head twitches. Lisuride displaced specific ligand binding from putative S1a, S1b and S2 receptors at nanomolar concentrations, and other drugs that blocked 5-HTP-induced head twitches also displaced binding at S2 sites. It is proposed that lisuride may have agonist properties at S1a receptors mediating the 5-HT syndrome but antagonist properties at S2 receptors mediating 5-HTP-induced head twitching.