Electrophysiology of Brain Serotonin Receptors: Subtype Specificity for Effector Mechanisms

Subtypes of brain serotonin (5-HT) receptors mediate distinct electrophysiological effects via different effector mechanisms: 1) 5-HT1 receptors induce a slow hyperpolarization via pertussis toxin-sensitive G proteins coupled to the opening of K+ channels; 2) 5-HT2 receptors induce a slow depolarization, partly by a closing of K+ channels negatively modulated by a stimulation of phosphoinositide (PI) hydrolysis; 3) 5-HT3 receptors induce a response distinct from the others, a fast, rapidly desensitizing excitation.