HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS		QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:
Guest Access | Sign In via User Name/Password

This Article Full Text Free Full Text (PDF) Free Submit a response Alert me when this article is cited Alert me when eLetters are posted Alert me if a correction is posted Citation Map Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in ISI Web of Science Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Add to My Personal Article Archive Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via ISI Web of Science (20) Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Carley, D. W. Articles by Radulovacki, M. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Carley, D. W. Articles by Radulovacki, M.

Role of Peripheral Serotonin in the Regulation of Central Sleep Apneas in Rats^*

^* From the Departments of Medicine (Dr. Carley) and Pharmacology (Drs. Carley and Radulovacki), University of Illinois College of Medicine at Chicago, Chicago, IL. Supported in part by National Institute on Aging grant AG14564.

Correspondence to: David W. Carley, PhD, Department of Medicine (M/C 787), University of Illinois, 840 S Wood St, Room 824, Chicago, IL 60612; e-mail: DWCarley{at}uic.edu

Study objectives: The aim of our study was to determine the effects of serotonin (5-HT), which does not penetrate the blood-brain barrier (BBB), and GR38032F, a 5-HT₃ receptor antagonist that may cross the BBB, on spontaneous apneas in adult Sprague-Dawley rats.

Measurements and results: Rats were implanted with electrodes for EEG and electromyographic recording to monitor sleep, with a radiotelemetry transmitter for monitoring aortic BP and heart period (HP) and were placed inside a single chamber plethysmograph for monitoring respiration. Sleep, BP, HP, and respiration were monitored for 6 h following administration of drugs. Intraperitoneal injection of 5-HT (0.79 mg/kg) to rats increased spontaneous central apneas during rapid eye movement (REM) sleep by > 250% in comparison to control recording (p = 0.01). GR38032F (0.1 mg/kg), which produced no effect on apnea expression, completely blocked the 5-HT-induced increase in REM apneas. Administration of 5-HT did not affect apnea expression in non-REM sleep and had no effect on sleep or BP.

Conclusions: From these observations, we conclude that binding at 5-HT₃ receptors in the peripheral nervous system promotes REM-related apnea genesis in rats. These findings further suggest that endogenous 5-HT, acting at least at peripheral 5-HT₃ receptors, may play a baseline physiologic role in the expression of spontaneous central apneas in rats.

Key Words: central apneas • 5-HT • 5-HT₃ receptor antagonist • rats • REM sleep

This article has been cited by other articles:

				T. Ogasa, A. D. Ray, C. P. Michlin, G. A. Farkas, B. J. B. Grant, and U. J. Magalang Systemic Administration of Serotonin 2A/2C Agonist Improves Upper Airway Stability in Zucker Rats Am. J. Respir. Crit. Care Med., October 1, 2004; 170(7): 804 - 810. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				P. Fenik and S. C. Veasey Pharmacological Characterization of Serotonergic Receptor Activity in the Hypoglossal Nucleus Am. J. Respir. Crit. Care Med., February 15, 2003; 167(4): 563 - 569. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				S. C. Veasey Serotonin . Culprit or Promising Therapy for Obstructive Sleep Apnea? Am. J. Respir. Crit. Care Med., April 1, 2001; 163(5): 1045 - 1047. [Full Text]

				D. W. CARLEY and M. RADULOVACKI Mirtazapine, a Mixed-Profile Serotonin Agonist/Antagonist, Suppresses Sleep Apnea in the Rat Am. J. Respir. Crit. Care Med., December 1, 1999; 160(6): 1824 - 1829. [Abstract] [Full Text]