A comparative study of the effects of some 5-HT1A receptor agonists on the blood pressure of pithed rats.

Abstract The intention of this study was to supply additional information about direct effects of the 5-HT1A receptor agonist indorenate on the arterial blood pressure. The effects of indorenate were compared with those of buspirone and ipsapirone (all selective 5-HT1A agonists) on the blood pressure of pithed rats. These compounds increased the blood pressure in a dose-dependent fashion. The effects of either ipsapirone or buspirone were clearly inhibited with 100 micrograms/kg of prazosin (selective alpha 1-adrenoceptor antagonist), whereas 1 mg/kg of this blocker elicited only a mild inhibition of the pressor effect of indorenate. Pindolol (100 micrograms/kg; a beta-adrenoceptor and 5-HT1 receptor blocker) was unable to modify the effects of all the 5-HT1A agonists tested. In addition, the 5-HT2 receptor and weak alpha 1-adrenoceptor blocker ketanserin (10-100 micrograms/kg) antagonized the pressor effect of indorenate. Nevertheless, only a mild inhibition was observed in the case of both ipsapirone and buspirone. On the other hand, the latter drugs diminished the blood pressure of pithed rats intravenously infused with norepinephrine, but indorenate was inactive. However, in rats infused with quipazine, all the 5-HT1A agonists failed to reduce blood pressure. These results indicate that buspirone and ipsapirone behaved as partial alpha 1-adrenoceptor agonists. Furthermore, the results show that indorenate-elicited pressor effects are probably due to stimulation of 5-HT2 receptors. Thus, unlike ipsapirone and buspirone, indorenate did not show conclusively activity related with alpha 1-adrenoceptors.