Naloxone reverses the serotonin dependent hypotensive action of CGP 6085 A

CGP 6085 A, a specific 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT), serotonin uptake inhibitor, is also a potent hypotensive agent. Its depressor effect in the spontaneously hypertensive (SH) rats correlates well with its ability to inhibit serotonin uptake. Here we report that the effects of CGP 6085 A on arterial blood pressure were greatly reduced in rats pretreated with p-chlorophenylalanine (pCl-Phe), a specific depletor of serotonin. Moreover, in rats pretreated with the serotonin antagonist, methysergide, CGP 6085 A did not produce significant hypotension. We also found that centrally administered naloxone reverses the hypotensive effect of CGP 6085 A. These results provide further evidence for the existence of an important serotonin-opioid interaction in the mechanisms of arterial blood regulation in the rat.