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British Journal of Pharmacology logoLink to British Journal of Pharmacology
. 1973 May;48(1):80–87. doi: 10.1111/j.1476-5381.1973.tb08224.x

Prostaglandin E1 causes sedation and increases 5-hydroxytryptamine turnover in rat brain

D R Haubrich, J Perez-Cruet, W D Reid
PMCID: PMC1776094  PMID: 4269288

Abstract

1. Administration of prostaglandin E1 (1 mg/kg, i.p.) to rats induced sedation and a decrease in muscular tone. Prostaglandin E1-induced sedation was accompanied by the low voltage-high frequency E.E.G. pattern characteristic of the waking animal.

2. Administration of prostaglandin E1 also increased the turnover rate of 5-hydroxytryptamine and raised the concentration of acetylcholine in brain.

3. The behavioural effects of prostaglandin were blocked by prior administration of p-chlorophenylalanine or pargyline, drugs which lowered the brain concentration of 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid (5-HIAA), and was potentiated by pretreatment with probenecid, which elevated the 5-HIAA concentration. Pretreatment with atropine sulphate failed to alter prostaglandin E1-induced sedation.

4. The results are compatible with the possibility that prostaglandin E1 induces a state resembling paradoxical sleep through an action on 5-hydroxytryptamine metabolism in brain.

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Selected References

These references are in PubMed. This may not be the complete list of references from this article.

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