The effect of physical exercise was examined on the sensitivity of 5-HT_1B receptors and on 5-HT-moduline tissue concentration in the central nervous system of rats.

Rats were trained for 7 consecutive weeks to run on a treadmill. Three groups of animals were selected: group 1, sedentary rats (controls); group 2, animals running for 1 h at 18 m/min for 5 days per week (moderate training) and group 3, animals running for 2 h, at 30 m/min on a 7% grade for 5 days per week (intensive training). The animals were sacrificed 24 h after the last running. Rat brains were dissected out to obtain hippocampus and substantia nigra and kept at –80 °C until use. 5-HT_1B receptor activity was determined by studying [³⁵S]GTPγS binding in a substantia nigra membrane preparation from individual animals, after stimulation by a selective 5-HT_1B receptor agonist (CP 93,129). 5-HT-moduline tissue content in hippocampus from individual animals was determined by ELISA using a polyclonal anti-5-HT-moduline antibody.

In moderately trained animals (n=5), the CP 93,129- stimulated [³⁵S]GTPγS binding curve was shifted to the right compared with controls (n=6), whereas the binding was totally suppressed in intensely trained animals (n=5). In parallel, 5-HT-moduline tissue concentration in the hippocampus was slightly increased in moderately trained animals (117.3±8.9%) (n=5), whereas it was significantly increased in intensely trained animals (182.6±29.5%) (n=5) compared to controls (100±6.11%) (n=6). These results show that 5-HT_1B receptors are slightly desensitized in moderately trained animals and totally desensitized in intensely trained animals; moreover, they suggest that the observed desensitization is related to an increase of 5-HT-moduline tissue content; this mechanism may play a role in various pathophysiological conditions.