Effect of serotonin antagonists on the dextran-induced anaphylactoid reaction in the rat.

Abstract

Dextran injected intravenously into rats causes a rapid lowering of the extent of activation of factor XII and of the plasma levels of prekallikrein and plasminogen, and at the same time a profound fall in blood pressure. The effects on these dextran-induced reactions of three serotonin antagonistic lysergic acid derivatives were studied in the rat: bromolysergic acid diethylamide (BOL 148), methysergide, and ergotamine. BOL 148 was found to be the only effective inhibitor of the blood pressure fall, possessing an inhibitory effect over the dose range 1.0-4.0 mg/kg intravenously. The finding supports the assumption that part of the dextran-induced blood pressure fall is mediated by serotonin through D-receptors. All three serotonin antagonists showed a serotonin-like lowering effect on the activation of factor XII and on the level of prekallikrein in plasma (BOL 148 1.0-4.0 mg/kg; methysergide 0.10-0.60 mg/kg; ergotamine 0.10-0.60 mg/kg). The results with the serotonin antagonist alone and in combination with dextran provided evidence that the serotonin-mediated part of the blood pressure fall can not be secondary to the effect of dextran on the plasma parameters assayed.