Serotonin antagonists in the five-choice serial reaction time task and their interactions with nicotine

Much research has implicated the serotonin (5-HT) system in cognitive functioning and psychomotor stimulant abuse, but its role depends on the subtypes of 5-HT receptors involved and the nature of the behavioural task. Here we aimed to extend previous studies by examining the role of 5-HT1A and 5-HT2C receptors in attentional performance. The effects of the selective 5-HT antagonists WAY-100635 and SB-242084 were assessed alone and for interactions with nicotine in the five-choice serial reaction time task in rats. The effects of several doses of WAY-100635 were tested in combination with a fixed dose of nicotine, and then various doses of nicotine were tested in combination with SB-242084. Systemic administration of WAY-100635 and SB-242084 induced opposing effects on speed-related measures in the five-choice serial reaction time task, with antagonism at 5-HT1A receptors increasing omission errors and response latency, and antagonism at 5-HT2C receptors reducing both omissions and latency, and also increasing anticipatory responses; neither drug affected accuracy. Nicotine itself improved all main indices of attention, and there was preliminary evidence that the detrimental effects of WAY-100635 on response latency were weakened by nicotine. Conversely, treatment with SB-242084 enhanced all speed-related indices of performance to above the levels seen under the influence of nicotine alone, thus suggesting that 5-HT2C antagonists might be useful to decrease reaction times if used as an add-on therapy to treat attentional decline.