Effect of the 5-HT3 receptor antagonist ondansetron on plasma AVP secretion: a study in cancer patients

The aim of the present study was to investigate the effects of a serotonin subtype 3 receptor antagonist, ondansetron, on arginine vasopressin secretion in humans. Plasma vasopressin concentrations were determined in 24 breast cancer patients undergoing adjuvant chemotherapy, before and after ondansetron intravenous (i.v.) administration. Ondansetron (8 mg i.v. at time 0 and 8 mg po at time 240 min) was administered alone in 12 patients and afterwards in combination with chemotherapy in all patients. No changes in hormone levels were found after ondansetron alone and in 17 patients who did not claim nausea and/or emesis after chemotherapy. In seven patients who experienced nausea and /or emesis, vasopressin levels significantly (P < 0.01) increased (from 6.3 +/- 0.9 ng/L in basal conditions to 15.1 +/- 3.3 ng/L at 10 h; P < 0.05 vs baseline). The results suggest the possibility that in humans, serotoninergic mechanisms, which modulate vasopressin secretion, may involve the activation of the serotonin receptors recognised by ondansetron.