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5-HT2A receptor activation is necessary for CO2-induced arousal
Journal article   Open access   Peer reviewed

5-HT2A receptor activation is necessary for CO2-induced arousal

Gordon F Buchanan, Haleigh R Smith, Amanda MacAskill and George B Richerson
Journal of neurophysiology, Vol.114(1), pp.233-243
07/2015
DOI: 10.1152/jn.00213.2015
PMCID: PMC4507958
PMID: 25925320
url
https://doi.org/10.1152/jn.00213.2015View
Published (Version of record) Open Access

Abstract

Hypercapnia-induced arousal from sleep is an important protective mechanism pertinent to a number of diseases. Most notably among these are the sudden infant death syndrome, obstructive sleep apnea and sudden unexpected death in epilepsy. Serotonin (5-HT) plays a significant role in hypercapnia-induced arousal. The mechanism of 5-HT's role in this protective response is unknown. Here we sought to identify the specific 5-HT receptor subtype(s) involved in this response. Wild-type mice were pretreated with antagonists against 5-HT receptor subtypes, as well as antagonists against adrenergic, cholinergic, histaminergic, dopaminergic, and orexinergic receptors before challenge with inspired CO2 or hypoxia. Antagonists of 5-HT(2A) receptors dose-dependently blocked CO2-induced arousal. The 5-HT(2C) receptor antagonist, RS-102221, and the 5-HT1A receptor agonist, 8-OH-DPAT, attenuated but did not completely block CO2-induced arousal. Blockade of non-5-HT receptors did not affect CO2-induced arousal. None of these drugs had any effect on hypoxia-induced arousal. 5-HT2 receptor agonists were given to mice in which 5-HT neurons had been genetically eliminated during embryonic life (Lmx1b(f/f/p)) and which are known to lack CO2-induced arousal. Application of agonists to 5-HT(2A), but not 5-HT(2C), receptors, dose-dependently restored CO2-induced arousal in these mice. These data identify the 5-HT(2A) receptor as an important mediator of CO2-induced arousal and suggest that, while 5-HT neurons can be independently activated to drive CO2-induced arousal, in the absence of 5-HT neurons and endogenous 5-HT, 5-HT receptor activation can act in a permissive fashion to facilitate CO2-induced arousal via another as yet unidentified chemosensor system.
Carbon Dioxide - metabolism LIM-Homeodomain Proteins - metabolism Mice, Inbred C57BL Receptor, Serotonin, 5-HT2C - metabolism Male Mice, Transgenic Electroencephalography Transcription Factors - genetics Telemetry Arousal - drug effects Hypoxia - metabolism Dose-Response Relationship, Drug Transcription Factors - metabolism Arousal - physiology LIM-Homeodomain Proteins - genetics Animals Neurotransmitter Agents - pharmacology Electromyography Receptor, Serotonin, 5-HT2A - metabolism Plethysmography Receptor, Serotonin, 5-HT1A - metabolism Disease Models, Animal Hypercapnia - metabolism

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