Involvement of central serotonergic mechanisms in the cough reflex.

To determine the role of central serotonergic systems in modulating the cough reflex, the effects of serotonergic agonists on the respiration and the cough reflex were comparatively studied. Male and female cats were anesthetized with sodium pentobarbital. Respiration and cough reflex were measured using a pneumotachograph via a cannula inserted into the trachea. The cough reflex was elicited by electrical stimuli to the superior laryngeal nerve. Tranylcypromine, a MAO inhibitor, in a dose of 5 mg/kg, i.v., increased the respiration, but depressed the cough reflex. The serotonin precursor 5-hydroxytryptophan (5 mg/kg, i.v.) depressed the respiration and the cough reflex. Haloperidol (2 mg/kg, i.v.) abolished the tranylcypromine-stimulated respiratory responses, and it intensified the tranylcypromine induced cough depression. It is concluded that the increase in serotonin levels in the brain has a depressant influence on the central generating mechanisms of the cough reflex. Furthermore, central dopaminergic mechanisms seem to play a modulating role on the cough reflex.