The inhibitory effects of 5-hydroxytryptamine on gastric acid secretion by the rat isolated stomach

1 The effect of 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) on acid secretion by a rat isolated stomach preparation has been studied. 2 5-HT at 10(-5)M in the serosal bathing fluid produced significant inhibition of the acid secretory responses to histamine, pentagastrin and isoprenaline but was without effect on basal secretion or that due to bethanechol, dibutryl cyclic adenosine 3',5'-monophosphate (db cyclic AMP) or phosphodiesterase inhibition with ICI63197. Increasing the concentration of 5-HT to 5 x 10(-5) M did not change this pattern of response whilst 5-HT at 10(-6) M did not cause consistent inhibition. 3 The inhibitory action of 5-HT could be prevented by the antagonist methysergide (2.5 x 10(-5) M). This concentration of methysergide alone did not affect responses to secretagogues or basal acid output. 4 Neither propranolol (2.5 x 10(-5) M) nor tetrodotoxin (10(-6) M) antagonized the inhibitory action of 5-HT. 5 Both indomethacin (2.8 x 10(-5) M) and ibuprofen (2.4 x 10(-4) M) antagonized the action of 5-HT. Indomethacin alone had no effect upon secretagogue responses. 6 5-HT at 10(-5) M had no inhibitory action when applied to the mucosal side of the preparation. 7 The results indicate that 5-HT can act directly on the stomach of the rat to produce inhibition of acid output. This inhibition is selective and may involve the products of cyclo-oxygenase activity.