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Contractile effects of serotonin in the rat cauda epididymis: expression and functional characterization of 5-HT receptors.

Serotonin (5-HT) exerts multiple central and peripheral functions. High concentrations of 5-HT have been found in the epididymis, a ductal organ that plays pivotal roles in sperm transport and maturation. The contraction of the epididymal smooth muscle is essential for sperm transport and emission during ejaculation. The contributions of the epididymal 5-HT system to these events are poorly understood. Here, we assessed the contractile function of 5-HT in the rat cauda epididymis (CE), pharmacologically targeting the receptor(s) and the reuptake mechanism involved in this system. Segments of CE duct from adult Wistar rats were set up in an organ bath system for isometric tension recordings, and concentration response curves to 5-HT and norepinephrine were obtained. 5-HT elicited concentration-dependent contractions of the CE duct (pEC50 = 6.5±0.1) that were potentiated with high potency by the NET inhibitor desipramine and with low potency by the highly-selective SERT inhibitor paroxetine indicating that NET is the major mediator of 5-HT reuptake in vitro. CE contractions to 5-HT were antagonized by the α1 -adrenoceptor antagonist prazosin (pA2 ≈8.9), 5-HT2A/2C antagonists ketanserin (pA2 ≈9.4) and fluoxetine (pA2 ≈7.4) and 5-HT1A ligands WAY 100635 (pA2 ≈8.9) and buspirone (pA2 ≈7.3). RT-PCR analysis demonstrated that 5-HT2A transcripts are highly abundant in the cauda epididymis, whereas 5-HT2C transcript was not found. Altogether, our results reveal that contractions of the CE duct to 5-HT encompasses at least activation of α1 -ARs, 5-HT1A and 5-HT2A receptors, providing new insights into the roles of 5-HT on the epididymal function.

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