Participation of the cannabinoid system and the NO/cGMP/KATP pathway in serotonin-induced peripheral antinociception

It has already been shown that serotonin can release endocannabinoids at the spinal cord level, culminating in inhibition of the dorsal horn. At the peripheral level, cannabinoid receptors modulate primary afferent neurons by inhibiting calcium conductance and increasing potassium conductance. Studies have shown that after the activation of opioid receptors and cannabinoids, there is also the activation of the NO/cGMP/KATP pathway, inducing cellular hyperpolarization. In this study, we evaluated the participation of the cannabinoid system with subsequent activation of the NO/cGMP/KATP pathway in the peripheral antinociceptive effect of serotonin. The paw pressure test of mice was used in animals that had their sensitivity to pain increased due to an intraplantar injection of PGE2 (2 mu g). Serotonin (250 ng/paw), administered locally in the right hind paw, induced antinociceptive effect. CB1 and CB2 cannabinoid receptors antagonists, AM251 (20, 40 and 80 mu g) and AM630 (25, 50 and 100 mu g), respectively, reversed the serotonin-induced antinociceptive effect. MAFP (0.5 mu g), an inhibitor of the FAAH enzyme that degrades anandamide, and JZL184 (3.75 mu g), an inhibitor of the enzyme MAGL that degrades 2-AG, as well as the VDM11 (2.5 mu g) inhibitor of anandamide reuptake, potentiated the antinociceptive effect induced by a low dose (62. 5 ng) of serotonin. In the evaluation of the participation of the NO/cGMP/KATP pathway, the antinociceptive effect of serotonin was reversed by the administration of the non-selective inhibitor of NOS isoforms L-NOarg (12.5, 25 and 50 mu g) and by the selective inhibitor for the neuronal isoform LNPA (24 mu g), as well as by the soluble guanylate cyclase inhibitor ODQ (25, 50 and 100 mu g). Among potassium channel blockers, only Glibenclamide (20, 40 and 80 mu g), an ATP-sensitive potassium channel blocker, reversed the effect of serotonin. In addition, intraplantar administration of serotonin (250 ng) was shown to induce a significant increase in nitrite levels in the homogenate of the plantar surface of the paw of mice. Taken together, these data suggest that the antinociceptive effect of serotonin occurs by activation of the cannabinoid system with subsequent activation of the NO/cGMP/KATP pathway.

Automated summary

It has been demonstrated that serotonin can inhibit the dorsal horn by releasing endocannabinoids at the spinal cord level, as well as modulate primary afferent neurons at the peripheral level. This study suggests that the antinociceptive effect of serotonin involves the activation of the cannabinoid system and subsequent activation of the NO/cGMP/KATP pathway.