Pharmacogenetic evidence for the involvement of 5-hydroxytryptamine (serotonin)-1B receptors in the mediation of morphine antinociceptive sensitivity

Morphine antinociception has been shown to be influenced significantly by genetic factors, now beginning to be identified in mice. A recent quantitative trait locus analysis revealed a significant statistical association between morphine antinociceptive magnitude and a region of mouse chromosome 9. This region contains the Htr1b gene, which encodes the 5- hydroxytryptamine (serotonin)-1B (5-HT(1B)) receptor subtype. To investigate the possibility that Htr1b represents the quantitative trait locus, C57BL/6 and DBA/2 inbred strains, the progenitors of the original quantitative trait locus mapping populations, were administered a novel 5-HT(1B) receptor antagonist (GR127935) concomitant with morphine. These mice are known to differ in morphine antinociceptive sensitivity on thermal pain assays (DBA/2 high; C57BL/6 low). GR127935 caused a dose-dependent antagonism (both reversal and prevention) of morphine antinociception in DBA/2 mice but had no effect in C57BL/6 mice. However, a 5-hydroxytryptamine-1A subtype (5-HT(1A)) receptor agonist, 8-hydroxydipropylaminotetralin, reversed morphine antinociception equally in the two strains. DBA/2 mice also exhibited significantly greater antinociception than did C57BL/6 mice from the administration of a 5-HT(1B) agonist, CGS12066. These data collectively support a role for 5-HT(1B) receptors in the mediation of morphine antinociception and support the contention that polymorphisms in the Htr1b gene may underlie individual differences in morphine sensitivity.