5‐Hydroxytryptamine Receptor Assays

Abstract This unit describes in vitro bioassays for studying 5‐hydroxytryptamine receptors in isolated intact animal tissues. In total, nine in vitro bioassays are described for 5‐HT1A, 5‐HT1B, 5‐HT1D, 5‐HT2A, 5‐HT2B, 5‐HT2C, 5‐HT3, 5‐HT4, and 5‐HT7 receptors in isolated intact guinea pig, rat and rabbit tissues. The 5‐HT1A, 5‐HT3, and 5‐HT7 assays use ileum preparations, whereas, the 5‐HT1B, 5‐HT1D, 5‐HT2A and 5‐HT2C receptor assays are all based on vascular preparations. The 5‐HT2B receptor is best studied in stomach fundic muscle and the 5‐HT4 receptor in esophageal tissue. To date, no functional isolated organ bioassays are available for the 5‐ht1e, 5‐ht1f, 5‐ht5 or 5‐HT6 receptors. This unit describes in vitro bioassays for studying 5‐hydroxytryptamine receptors in isolated intact animal tissues