Regulatory role of 5-HT and muscarinic receptor antagonists on the migrating myoelectric complex in rats

The 5-HT3 and 5-HT4 receptor antagonists alosetron and piboserod, and the muscarinic receptor antagonists PNU-171990A (2(diisopropylamino)ethyl 1-phenylcyclopentanecarboxylate, hydrochloride) and PNU-174708A (2-(diisopropylamino)ethyl 1-phenylcyclohexanecarboxylate) were studied by electromyography, defining the migrating myoelectric complex (MMC) after i.v. administration in conscious rats. Alosetron prolonged the MMC cycle length from 16.6 to maximally 30.4 min at the dose 0.5 mg kg(-1). Piboserod promptly abolished MMC pattern and prolonged cycle length from 16.5 to >60 min at 0.5 mg kg(-1). PNU-171990A and PNU-174708A had no effect on basal cycle length up to a dose of 20 mg kg(-1). In controls, saline did not change the MMC pattern, while L-hyoscyamine at the same dose, 20 mg kg(-1), prolonged cycle length from 17.6 to 29.0 min. None of the drugs affected duration or propagation velocity of phase III of MMC. Blockade of 5-HT4 receptors seems to exert a powerful inhibitory effect on motility, 5-HT3 receptor blockade is less efficient and muscarinic receptor blockade has low efficacy. (C) 2003 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.