Effect of the putative 5-HT1A antagonists WAY100135 and SDZ 216-525 on 5-HT neuronal firing in the guinea-pig dorsal raphe nucleus

The selective 5-hydroxytryptamine1A (5-HT1A) agonist 8-hydroxy-2-(di-n-propylamino)tetralin (8-OHDPAT, 0.5-35 micrograms kg-1 i.v.) produces a dose related reversible inhibition (ED50 = 6.5 micrograms kg-1 i.v.) of the firing of serotonergic neurones in the dorsal raphe nucleus of the guinea-pig. Administration of N-tert-butyl-3- (4-(2-methoxyphenyl)piperazine-1-yl)-2phenylpropanamide dihydrochloride (WAY100135, 0.5 mg kg-1 i.v.), a specific 5-HT1A antagonist, antagonized the 8-OHDPAT induced inhibition of neuronal firing whilst methyl 4-(4-[4-(1,1,3-trioxo-2H-1,2-benzoisothiazol-2-yl)butyl]-1- piperazinyl) 1 H-indole-2-carboxylate (SDZ 216-525, 0.1-0.5 mg kg-1 i.v.) (also a putative 5-HT1A antagonist) reduced the basal firing of 5-HT neurones and furthermore failed to antagonize the inhibition produced by 8-OHDPAT. These results indicate that WAY 100135 is a silent and selective 5-HT1A antagonist whereas SDZ 216-525 demonstrates a partial agonist activity at the somatodendritic 5-HT1A autoreceptor in the guinea-pig DRN.