Effect of serotonin on the immunoreactive thyrotropin-releasing hormone concentrations of the rat stomach.

The effects of serotonin and its related compounds on immunoreactive thyrotropin-releasing hormone (ir-TRH) concentrations of the rat stomach wall and gastric juice were studied. Either serotonin, cyproheptadine or GR38032F was injected intraperitoneally, and the rats were decapitated at various times after the injection. ir-TRH concentrations of the stomach wall and gastric juice were measured by radioimmunoassay, and gastric serotonin concentrations were measured by HPLC. ir-TRH concentrations of the stomach wall decreased, and ir-TRH concentrations of gastric juice increased significantly after serotonin injection. On the other hand, both cyproheptadine and GR38032F did not affect ir-TRH concentrations of the stomach. The effects of serotonin on ir-TRH concentrations of the stomach were significantly blocked by the pretreatment of cyproheptadine and GR38032F. The reciprocal changes of gastric ir-TRH and serotonin concentrations were observed without changes in gastric juice pH. These findings suggest that serotonin stimulates ir-TRH release from the stomach wall into gastric juice, and the effects of serotonin on ir-TRH release may be partly mediated via 5-HT2- and 5-HT3-receptors.