Central and peripheral serotonergic influences on viscerovisceral inhibitory reflex during duodenal distension in sheep.

The effects of duodenal distension on forestomach and abomasal motility were investigated in conscious sheep chronically fitted with intraparietal electrodes, a duodenal cannula, and an intracerebroventricular cannula. Duodenal distensions with a balloon inflated with 40 ml (DD40) of water reduced the frequency of forestomach and abomasal contractions by 45 and 32%, respectively, while distension with 80 ml (DD80) induced a total inhibition. Methysergide, a mixed 5HT1-5HT2 antagonist administered intravenously (200 micrograms/kg) or intracerebroventricularly (20 micrograms/kg) suppressed the DD40-induced inhibition and reduced that induced by DD80. Spiroxatrine, a selective 5HT1A antagonist, intravenously (100 micrograms/kg) or intracerebroventricularly (10 micrograms/kg), suppressed the DD40 and DD80-induced inhibition, which was also attenuated by the 5HT2 antagonist ritanserin given intravenously (200 micrograms/kg) or intracerebroventricularly (20 micrograms/kg). Granisetron, a 5HT3 antagonist, injected intravenously (150 micrograms/kg), abolished the effects of DD40 and DD80 while it had no antagonistic action on DD40 and DD80 when given intracerebroventricularly (15 micrograms/kg). It is concluded that in sheep, duodenal distension inhibits forestomach and abomasal motility through 5HT1A and 5HT2 receptors at the level of the central nervous system and 5HT3 receptors located peripherally.