5‐HT evokes sensory long‐term facilitation of rodent carotid body via activation of NADPH oxidase

5‐Hydroxytryptamine (5‐HT) evokes long‐term activation of neuronal activity in the nervous system. Carotid bodies, the sensory organs for detecting arterial oxygen, express 5‐HT. In the present study we examined whether 5‐HT evokes sensory long‐term facilitation (LTF) of the carotid body, and if so by what mechanism(s). Experiments were performed on anaesthetized adult rats and mice. Sensory activity was recorded from carotid bodies ex vivo . Spaced (3 × 15 s of 100 n m at 5 min intervals) but not mass (300 n m , 45 s) application of 5‐HT elicited LTF, whereas both modes of 5‐HT application evoked initial sensory excitation of the carotid bodies in rats. Ketanserin, a 5‐HT 2 receptor antagonist prevented sensory LTF but not the initial sensory excitation. Spaced application of 5‐HT activated protein kinase C (PKC) as evidenced by increased phosphorylations of PKC at Thr 514 and myristoylated alanine‐rich C kinase substrate (MARCKS) and these effects were abolished by ketanserin as well as bisindolylmaleimide (Bis‐1), an inhibitor of PKC. Bis‐1 prevented 5‐HT‐evoked sensory LTF. 5‐HT increased NADPH oxidase activity and PKC‐dependent phosphorylation of p47 phox subunit of the oxidase complex. NADPH oxidase inhibitors (apocynin and diphenyl iodinium), as well as an anti‐oxidant ( N ‐acetyl cysteine), prevented 5‐HT‐evoked sensory LTF. Mice deficient in gp91 phox , the membrane subunit of the NADPH oxidase complex, showed no sensory LTF, although responding to 5‐HT with initial afferent nerve activation, whereas both LTF and initial excitation by 5‐HT were seen in wild‐type mice. These results demonstrate that spaced but not mass application of 5‐HT elicits sensory LTF of the carotid body via activation of 5‐HT 2 receptors, which involves a novel signalling mechanism coupled to PKC‐dependent activation of NADPH oxidase.