Interactions between serotonin and substance P in the spinal regulation of nociception

Interactions between 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) and substance P (SP) in the mouse spinal cord were investigated using the tail-flick test and the behavioral response evoked by intrathecal (i.th.) SP or i.th. 5-HT. I.th. injection of 5-HT (20 micrograms) or the 5-HT1 receptor agonists (+)-8-hydroxy-2-(di-n-propylamino)tetralin ((+)-8-OH-DPAT) (20 micrograms) or 5-methoxy-3(1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine-4-yl)-1H-indole (RU 24969) (20 micrograms) markedly inhibited the tail-flick reflex. The effect of these compounds was reduced when SP (5 micrograms) was given i.th. 55 min, or 55 and 45 min before the agonists. The tail-flick latencies recorded 5 min before injection of a 5-HT receptor agonist were similar in animals treated with SP or vehicle. The changes in the tail-flick test were not due to changes in tail skin temperature since only minimal differences in the skin temperature were recorded between the groups injected with SP or vehicle. I.th. injection of SP (10 ng) or 5-HT (2 micrograms) produced a similar behavioral response consisting of biting, licking and scratching of the caudal part of the body, indicative of nociceptive stimulation. The responses both to i.th. SP and 5-HT were reduced after i.th. application of the SP receptor antagonist [D-Arg1,D-Trp7.9,Leu11]-SP (Spantide) (5 micrograms), as well as 5 min after i.th. injection of the 5-HT receptor antagonist metergoline (4 micrograms). The data may indicate functional interactions between SP and 5-HT in the mouse spinal cord, which may take place in neurons involved in the processing of nociception.