Agomelatine affects rat suprachiasmatic nucleus neurons via melatonin and serotonin receptors

SCN firing rates were dose-dependently suppressed by 19.2-80.9% following perfusion of 0.04-0.32mM agomelatine.

• Agomelatine demonstrates a significant dose-dependent suppression of SCN neuron firing rates.
• Melatonin also reduced SCN neuron firing rates by 16.6-62.5% at doses of 0.4-3.2mM.
• A selective melatonin receptor antagonist reduced the suppressive effects of agomelatine by 35%.
• A 5-HT2C receptor agonist diminished the effect of agomelatine by 50.2%.
• A 5-HT2C receptor antagonist significantly decreased SCN firing rates by 19.6-91.8% at doses of 0.03-0.12mM.
• Co-perfusion of the 5-HT2C antagonist with a 5-HT2C agonist reduced the suppression caused by the antagonist alone by approximately 72.1%.

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