Effect of Serotonin 5-HT ₁, 5-HT ₂, and 5-HT ₃ Receptor Antagonists on the Prolactin Response to Restraint and Ether Stress

Abstract

Serotonin (5-HT) appears to be involved in the central control of the prolactin (PRL) response to suckling and estrogen. Furthermore, 5-HT may participate in the mediation of stress-induced PRL release. In order further to elucidate the role of 5-HT and the type of 5-HT receptor(s) involved in the PRL response to stress, we investigated the effect of blockade of 5-HT₁, 5-HT₂ or 5-HT₃ receptors on the restraint or ether stress-induced release of PRL in male rats. Pretreatment with the 5-HT_{1 + 2} receptor antagonist methysergide (0.5 or 2.5 mg/kg i.p.) inhibited or prevented the PRL response to restraint or ether stress. Pretreatment with the 5-HT₂ receptor antagonists ketanserin or LY 53857 (0.5 or 2.5 mg/kg i.p.) inhibited the response to restraint or ether stress approximately 30 or 60%, respectively. Higher doses of both 5-HT₂ receptor antagonists (10 mg/kg i.p.) had a minor inhibitory effect (5-30% for ketanserin and 50% for LY 53857). Prior intraperitoneal administration of the 5-HT₃ receptor antagonists ICS 205-930 or GR 38032F (0.05-2.5 mg/kg i.p.) inhibited the restraint stress-induced PRL release dose-dependently. Both compounds inhibited the PRL response to ether stress, but only the effect of GR was dose-related. The maximal inhibitory effect (70% inhibition of the PRL response to restraint or ether stress) was obtained for both compounds at a dose of 0.1 mg/kg. We conclude that serotonergic neurons are involved in the mediation of the stress-induced PRL release by activation of 5-HT₁, 5-HT₂ as well as 5-HT₃ receptors.