The antinociceptive effect induced by FR140423 is mediated through spinal 5-HT2A and 5-HT3 receptors.

The involvement of 5-HT receptors in the antinociceptive effect of FR140423, 3-(difluoromethyl)-1-(4-methoxyphenyl)-5-[4-(methylsulfinyl)phenyl]py razole, was investigated in mice by means of the tail-pinch test. The antinociceptive effect of FR140423 injected i.t. was completely abolished by co-administration of the non-selective serotonin (5-hydroxytryptamine, 5-HT) receptor antagonist methysergide, the 5-HT2A receptor antagonist ketanserin and the 5-HT3 receptor antagonist MDL-72222 (3-tropanyl-3,5-dichlorobenzoate) but not by the 5-HT2B receptor antagonist SB-204741 (N-(1-methyl-5-indolyl)-N'-(3-methylisothiazol-5-yl)urea) or the 5-HT2C receptor antagonist SB-242084 (6-chloro-5-methyl-N-[6-(2-methylpyridin-3-yloxy)pyridin-3-y l]indolin e-1-carboxamine). The antinociceptive effect of FR140423 administered orally was abolished by i.t., but not by i.c.v., injection of methysergide, ketanserin and MDL-72222. These data indicate that FR140423, unlike morphine, exerts its antinociceptive effect against a mechanical noxious stimulus, such as in the tail-pinch test, by activation of spinal 5-HT2A and 5-HT3 receptors.