Male and female 3 day old Wistar rats were injected intracerebroventricularly with 5,7-dyhydroxytryptamine (ICV) 50 µg in order to destroy the central serotonine (5-HT) system. When the animals attained the age of about 3 months the antinociceptive effect of mCPP, a central 5-HT2C, receptor agonist, was examined using hot plate test. The levels of 5-HT and its metabolite 5-HIAA were estimated in the striatum. Our results support findings of other authors, that the central 5-HT2C, receptor is involved in the nociceptive action of mCPP and the above mentioned effect is dependent on an intact central 5-HT system (in female rats only).

Keywords: male and female rats, 5,7-Dihydroxytryptamine, mCPP, Hot plate