Interaction of serotonin and cholecystokinin in the lateral parabrachial nucleus to control sodium intake.

Serotonin [5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT)] and CCK injected into the lateral parabrachial nucleus (LPBN) inhibit NaCl and water intake. In this study, we investigated interactions between 5-HT and CCK into the LPBN to control water and NaCl intake. Male Holtzman rats with cannulas implanted bilaterally in the LPBN were treated with furosemide + captopril to induce water and NaCl intake. Bilateral LPBN injections of high doses of the 5-HT antagonist methysergide (4 microg) or the CCK antagonist proglumide (50 microg), alone or combined, produced similar increases in water and 1.8% NaCl intake. Low doses of methysergide (0.5 microg) + proglumide (20 microg) produced greater increases in NaCl intake than when they were injected alone. The 5-HT(2a/2c) agonist 2,5-dimetoxy-4-iodoamphetamine hydrobromide (DOI; 5 microg) into the LPBN reduced water and NaCl intake. After proglumide (50 microg) + DOI treatment, the intake was not different from vehicle treatment. CCK-8 (1 microg) alone produced no effect. CCK-8 combined with methysergide (4 microg) reduced the effect of methysergide on NaCl intake. The data suggest that functional interactions between 5-HT and CCK in the LPBN may be important for exerting inhibitory control of NaCl intake.