TY - JOUR
T1 - Quantifying the 5-HT1 agonist action of buspirone in man
AU - Bridge, Matthew
AU - Marvin, G
AU - Thompson, C
AU - Sharma, Anita
AU - Jones, David
AU - Kendall, Martin
PY - 2001/11/1
Y1 - 2001/11/1
N2 - Rationale: Buspirone is used as a neuroendocrine challenge in which the increase of circulating prolactin is taken as a measure of the sensitivity of central serotonergic (5-HT1A) pathways. Interpretation of the test is complicated, however, by the fact that buspirone possesses D-2 antagonist and 5-HT1A agonist activity, both of which will result in the release of prolactin. To understand the significance of prolactin secretion in response to buspirone, it is important to measure the differential actions of the two controlling pathways. Objective: To characterise the dual action of buspirone in stimulating the secretion of prolactin by blocking the 5-HT1A action with the 5-HT1A antagonist action of pindolol. Methods: Healthy male subjects (n=35) received buspirone (0.5 mg.kg bw(-1) orally) with and without pre-treatment with the 5-HT1A receptor antagonist pindolol (40 mg over 2 days, 0.5 mg.kg bw(-1) on test day). Nine subjects underwent two additional trials in which they received a placebo with and without pre-treatment with pindolol. Results: Pindolol alone caused a small but significant reduction (18%) in the tonic release of prolactin. Buspirone alone produced a robust prolactin response which was reduced to approximately half by pindolol pre-treatment. Pindolol pre-treatment also, on average, delayed the onset and peak of the prolactin response. There was wide variation among individuals both in the absolute response to buspirone and in the proportion that could be attributed to the non-serotonergic agonist action of buspirone (22-82% IQ range). Conclusions: Our results indicate that while serotonergic pathways play a minor role in the tonic release of prolactin, the response to a buspirone challenge alone cannot be used as a simple index of central serotonergic activity. However, if two challenges are carried out, one with buspirone and the other with buspirone plus pindolol, quantitative measures can be made of the sensitivity of both the 5-HT1A and the putative D-2 pathways controlling prolactin release.
AB - Rationale: Buspirone is used as a neuroendocrine challenge in which the increase of circulating prolactin is taken as a measure of the sensitivity of central serotonergic (5-HT1A) pathways. Interpretation of the test is complicated, however, by the fact that buspirone possesses D-2 antagonist and 5-HT1A agonist activity, both of which will result in the release of prolactin. To understand the significance of prolactin secretion in response to buspirone, it is important to measure the differential actions of the two controlling pathways. Objective: To characterise the dual action of buspirone in stimulating the secretion of prolactin by blocking the 5-HT1A action with the 5-HT1A antagonist action of pindolol. Methods: Healthy male subjects (n=35) received buspirone (0.5 mg.kg bw(-1) orally) with and without pre-treatment with the 5-HT1A receptor antagonist pindolol (40 mg over 2 days, 0.5 mg.kg bw(-1) on test day). Nine subjects underwent two additional trials in which they received a placebo with and without pre-treatment with pindolol. Results: Pindolol alone caused a small but significant reduction (18%) in the tonic release of prolactin. Buspirone alone produced a robust prolactin response which was reduced to approximately half by pindolol pre-treatment. Pindolol pre-treatment also, on average, delayed the onset and peak of the prolactin response. There was wide variation among individuals both in the absolute response to buspirone and in the proportion that could be attributed to the non-serotonergic agonist action of buspirone (22-82% IQ range). Conclusions: Our results indicate that while serotonergic pathways play a minor role in the tonic release of prolactin, the response to a buspirone challenge alone cannot be used as a simple index of central serotonergic activity. However, if two challenges are carried out, one with buspirone and the other with buspirone plus pindolol, quantitative measures can be made of the sensitivity of both the 5-HT1A and the putative D-2 pathways controlling prolactin release.
KW - 5-HT1A receptor
KW - prolactin
KW - pindolol
KW - buspirone
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=0034746985&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1007/s002130100881
DO - 10.1007/s002130100881
M3 - Article
C2 - 11713611
SN - 1432-2072
VL - 158
SP - 224
EP - 229
JO - Psychopharmacology
JF - Psychopharmacology
IS - 3
ER -