Chronic spinal cord injury causes upregulation of serotonin (5-HT)_2A and 5-HT_2C receptors in lumbosacral cord motoneurons.

Abstract

To investigate whether the voiding dysfunction caused by spinal cord injury (SCI) in rats can be improved by i.v. administration of the serotonin (5-HT)_2A/2C receptor agonist 2,5-dimethoxy-4-iodophenyl-2-aminopropanehydrochloride (DOI), and to discuss whether the mechanism can be ascribed to 5-HT_2A and 5-HT _2C receptor upregulation in lumbosacral cord motoneurons. Female Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into two groups (SCI group vs normal control [NC] group). Under urethane anaesthesia, cystometry was performed to examine the variation in urodynamic variables before and after successive intrathecal (i.t.) administration of various doses of DOI into the lumbosacral cord. Changes in 5-HT_2A and -_2C receptors in the lumbosacral cord were also investigated using immunohistochemical staining and Western blot analysis. Compared with NC rats, the SCI rats had higher bladder capacity and post-void residual urine volume, and lower voiding efficiency. After SCI, DOI improved voiding efficiency, probably via external urethral sphincter (EUS) activity. Immunohistochemical staining and Western blot analysis showed that 5-HT_2A and -_2C receptors were upregulated in lumbosacral cord motoneurons. In rats with SCI, DOI can improve voiding efficiency; this may be attributable to 5-HT_2A and -_2C receptor upregulation in lumbosacral cord motoneurons controlling EUS activity.