Enkephalinergic neurons express 5-HT3 receptors in the spinal cord dorsal horn: single cell RT-PCR analysis

The analgesic effect of activation of 5-HT3 receptors at the spinal cord is attenuated by the opioid antagonist naloxone. Enkephalin-immunoreactive neurons in the spinal cord superficial dorsal horn are innervated by 5-HT-immunoreactive fibers. This prompted us to examine whether enkephalinergic dorsal horn neurons express 5-HT3 receptors. Using the technique of single-cell RT-PCR adapted for small neurons in the superficial dorsal horn, methionine-enkephalin sequence-specific PCR products were observed in about half of the neurons studied. Furthermore, 5-HT3 receptor mRNA was detected in approximately 25% of enkephalinergic neurons. These observations suggest that at least part of the antinociception elicited by activation of 5-HT3 receptors at the spinal cord may involve enkephalinergic dorsal horn neurons.