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Quinine, chloroquine and mefloquine are commonly used to treat malaria, however, with associated gastrointestinal (GI) side-effects. These drugs act as antagonists at recombinant 5-HT3 receptors and modulate gut peristalsis. These gastrointestinal side effects may be the result of antagonism at intestinal 5-HT3 receptors. Ileum from male C57BL/6 mice and guinea pigs was mounted longitudinally in organ baths. The concentration--response curves for 5-HT and the selective 5-HT3 agonist 2-Me-5-HT were obtained with 5-HT (pEC50=7.57±0.33, 12) more potent (P=0.004) than 2-Me-5-HT (pEC50=5.45±0.58, n=5) in mouse ileum. There was no difference in potency of 5-HT (pEC50=5.42±0.15, n=8) and 2-Me-5-HT (pIC50=5.01±0.55, n=11) in guinea pig ileum (P>0.05). Quinine, chloroquine or mefloquine was applied for 10 min and inhibitions prior to submaximal agonist application. In mouse ileum, quinine, chloroquine and mefloquine antagonised 5-HT-induced contractions (pIC50=4.9±0.17, n=7; 4.76±0.14, n=5; 6.21±0.2, n=4, correspondingly) with mefloquine most potent (P<0.05). Quinine, chloroquine and mefloquine antagonised 2-me-5-HT-induced contractions (pIC50=6.35±0.11, n=8; 4.64±0.2, n=7; 5.11±0.22, n=6, correspondingly) with quinine most potent (P<0.05). In guinea-pig ileum, quinine, chloroquine and mefloquine antagonised 5-HT-induced contractions (pIC50=5.02±0.15, n=6; 4.54±0.1, n=7; 5.32±0.13, n=5) and 2-me-5-HT-induced contractions (pIC50=4.62±0.25, n=5; 4.56±0.14, n=6; 5.67±0.12, n=4) with chloroquine least potent against 5-HT and mefloquine most potent against 2-me-5-HT (P<0.05). These results support previous studies identifying anti-malarial drugs as antagonists at recombinant 5-HT3 receptors and may also demonstrate the ability of these drugs to influence native 5-HT3 receptor-evoked contractile responses which may account for their associated GI side-effects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Anxiety disorders are the most common psychiatric disorders. Typical medications used to treat patients are benzodiazepines or antidepressants that target serotonin (5-HT) activity. The ionotropic 5-HT3 receptor has emerged as a potential therapeutic target because selective antagonist compounds reduce anxiety in rodents, primates, and humans. 5-HT binds to the extracellular N-terminus of the 5-HT3A receptor subunit, but receptor activation is also enhanced by distinct allosteric sites. It is not known if specific molecular subunits of the 5-HT3 receptor modulate anxiety. To address this issue, we characterized anxiety-like behavior of mice with a targeted deletion of the 5-HT3A receptor subunit gene in the light/dark box, elevated plus maze, and novelty interaction animal models of anxiety. 5-HT3A null mice exhibited an anxiolytic behavioral phenotype that was highly correlated across behavioral measures. This evidence indicates that the 5-HT3A molecular subunit influences anxiety-like behavior. Pharmacotherapy that targets specifically the 5-HT3A receptor subunit may provide a novel treatment for anxiety disorders. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]