In vivo electrophysiological and neurochemical effects of the selective 5-HT 1A receptor agonist, F13640, at pre- and postsynaptic 5-HT 1A receptors in the rat

Rationale: F13640 (befiradol) is a novel 5-HT1A receptor agonist with exceptional selectivity vs. other receptors and binding sites. It shows analgesic activity in animal models and is currently developed for human use. Objectives: Given the potential dual role of the serotonergic system in pain, through the modulation of ascending signals in spinal cord and their emotional processing by corticolimbic areas, we examined the in vivo activity of F13640 at somatodendritic autoreceptors and postsynaptic 5-HT 1A heteroreceptors in medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC). Methods: In vivo single unit recordings and intracerebral microdialysis in the rat. Results: F13640 reduced the activity of dorsal raphe serotonergic neurons at 0.2-18.2 μg kg -1, i.v. (cumulative doses; ED50=0.69 μg kg -1, i.v.) and increased the discharge rate of 80% of mPFC pyramidal neurons in the same dose range (ED50=0.62 μg kg -1, i.v.). Both effects were reversed by the subsequent administration of the 5-HT 1A receptor antagonist (±)WAY100635. In microdialysis studies, F13640 (0.04-0.63 mg kg -1, i.p.) dose-dependently decreased extracellular 5-HT in the hippocampus and mPFC. Likewise, F13640 (0.01-2.5 mg kg -1, i.p.) dose-dependently increased extracellular DA in mPFC, an effect dependent on the activation of postsynaptic 5-HT 1A receptors in mPFC. Local perfusion of F13640 in mPFC (1-1,000 μM) also increased extracellular DA in a concentration-dependent manner. Both the systemic and local effects of F13640 were prevented by prior (±)WAY100635 administration. Conclusions These results indicate that, upon systemic administration, F13640 activates both 5-HT 1A autoreceptors and postsynaptic 5-HT 1A receptors in prefrontal cortex with a similar potency. Both activities are likely involved in the analgesic properties of the compound. © Springer-Verlag 2011.
This work was supported by grants SAF 2007-62378, FIS PI060264, FIS PI09/1245 (PN I+D+I 2008-2011, ISCIII-Subdirección General de Investigación y Fomento de la Investigación), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Salud Mental, CIBERSAM and Pierre Fabre Medicament. L. L.-P. was supported by a JAE fellowship from CSIC. P. C. is supported by the Researcher Stabilization Program of the Health Department of the Generalitat de Catalunya.