Bradykinin potentiates 5-HT3 receptor-mediated current in rat trigeminal ganglion neurons

To explore the modulatory effect of bradykinin (BK) on 5-HT(3 )receptor-mediated current in trigeminal ganglion (TG) neurons in rats.

The whole-cell patch-clamp technique was used to record 5-HT-activated currents (I(5-HT)) in neurons freshly dissociated from rat TG. Drugs were applied by rapid solution exchange.

The majority of the neurons examined responded to 5-HT applied externally with an inward current (76.3%, 74/97) that could be blocked by the 5-HT(3 )receptor antagonist, ICS-205,930 (10(-6) mol/L). In 66 of the 74 cells sensitive to 5-HT (89.2%), pretreatment for 30 s with BK (10(-6)-10(-10) mol/L) could potentiate I(5-HT) with the maximal modulatory effect occurring at 10(-7) mol/L BK (71.6%+/-4.9%). BK shifted the 5-HT concentration-response curve upwards with an increase of 68.9%+/-7.2% in the maximal current response, but with no significant change in the EC(50) value (19.1+/-3.2 mumol/L vs 20.9+/-3.5 micromol/L; t-test, P>0.05; n=8). BK potentiated I(5-HT) in a holding potential-independent manner and did not alter the reverse potential of I(5-HT). This BK-induced potentiation of I(5-HT) was almost completely blocked by Hoe 140 (5*10(-7) mol/L), a selective B2 BK receptor antagonist, and was removed after intracellular dialysis of GF-109203X (2 micromol/L), a selective protein kinase C (PKC) inhibitor, with the re-patch clamp.

Pre-application of BK exerts an enhancing effect on I(5-HT) via a PKC-dependent pathway in rat TG neurons, which may explain the peripheral mechanism of pain and hyperalgesia caused by, for example, tissue damage and inflammation.