Vagal release of serotonin into gut lumen and portal circulation via separate control mechanisms

The mechanisms controlling vagally induced serotonin-like immunoreactivity (5-HTLI) release into portal circulation and jejunal lumen were studied in individual cats. In control animals, electrical vagal nerve stimulation significantly enhanced both the endoluminal secretion rate of 5-HTLI and the release of 5-HTLI to the portal vein. The vagally induced release of 5-HTLI to the portal circulation was blocked by pretreatment with propranolol or phenoxybenzamine, or by prior removal of the superior cervical ganglia, but was not blocked by atropine or hexamethonium. On the contrary, the luminal secretion of 5-HTLI after vagal stimulation was not blocked by adrenoceptor blocking agents or ganglionectomy, but instead was inhibited by cholinoceptor antagonists. Thus, in the same experimental animal it was shown that vagally induced release of 5-HTLI to the portal circulation was mediated by adrenoceptor mechanisms, while the luminal release of 5-HTLI was regulated via cholinoceptors. Based on indirect estimations, the apical release of 5-HT seems to be qualitatively small in comparison with the release into the portal circulation.