Role of 5-HT in cholera toxin-induced mucin secretion in the rat small intestine.

We examined the role of 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) in cholera toxin (CT)-induced mucin secretion in the proximal and distal regions of the rat small intestine. Neither the 5-HT2 receptor antagonist ketanserin nor the cyclooxygenase inhibitor indomethacin was capable of inhibiting choleraic mucin secretion. However, in the presence of the mixed 5-HT3/4 receptor antagonist tropisetron at doses that block both receptor subtypes, the secretory response was reduced to baseline levels in the proximal and distal small intestine. The selective 5-HT3 receptor antagonist ondansetron had no significant effect. These findings suggest that choleraic mucin secretion is mediated primarily through the activation of a 5-HT4-like receptor. Mucin secretion in response to the exogenous application of 5-HT occurs via two pathways: one is mediated by a 5-HT4-like receptor and is capsaicin sensitive but tetrodotoxin (TTX) insensitive, and one lacks the capsaicin-sensitive 5-HT4-mediated response but is TTX sensitive. Both converge on a common pathway that is cholinergic. No significant differences were observed between proximal and distal intestinal segments.