5-Hydroxytryptamine contracts human uterine artery smooth muscle predominantly via 5-HT2 receptors

Serotonergic receptors were classified in the isolated human uterine artery with intact endothelium, using agonists and antagonists for 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) receptors. The efficacy for different agonists rated: alpha-methyl-5-HT (5-HT2) = 5-HT (non-selective) = 2-methyl-5-HT (5-HT3) >> sumatriptan (5-HT1), and the potency as: sumatriptan = 5-HT > 5-HT > alpha-methyl-5-HT > 2-methyl-5-HT. The contractile effects of 5-HT and alpha-methyl-5-HT were antagonized by the 5-HT2 receptor antagonist ketanserin and the non-selective antagonist methiothepin. The efficacy of sumatriptan was comparatively low. No interaction was encountered between 2-methyl-5-HT and MDL72222, suggesting an absence of 5-HT3 receptors. The results indicate that the contractile serotonergic receptor population in the human uterine artery mainly comprises 5-HT2 receptors, although a minor contribution of contractile 5-HT1 receptors cannot be excluded.