Serotonergics, central

DAT is predominantly expressed by dopaminergic brain neurons, NET by noradrenergic neurons in the central and peripheral nervous system, and SERT is restricted to the axons of serotonergic neurons, which originate in the raphe nuclei and innervate numerous higher brain regions therefore SERT is widely distributed in the brain. Outside the brain, 5HT transport can be measured on non-neuronal cells (e.g. platelets, lympho-blastoid cells and smooth muscle cells) most of the 5HT appearing in the circulation is taken up by platelets. 

Reich DL, Silvay G Ketamine an update on the first twenty-five years of clinical experience. Can J Anaesth 36 186—197, 1989 Ricaurte GA, Forno LS, Wilson MA, et al (+/-)3,4-Methylenedioxymethamphetamine selectively damages central serotonergic neurons in nonhuman primates. JAMA 260 51-55, 1988... 

Chaouloff, F (1993) Physiopharmacological interactions between stress hormones and central serotonergic systems. Brain Res. 18 1-32. 

Porsolt, RD, Bertin, A, Blavet, A, Deniel, M and Jalfre, M (1979) Immobility induced by forced swimming in rats effects of agents which modify central catecholamine and serotonergic activity. Eur. J. Pharmacol. 57 201-210. 

Ricaurte, G.A. Fomo, L.S. Wilson, M.A. DeLanney, L.E. Irwin, L. Molliver, M.E. and Langston, J.W. ( )-3,4-methylenedioxyamphetamine selectively damages central serotonergic neurons in nonhuman primates. 

There is a recent clinical report by Emil Coeearo and colleagues that I think might be relevant to the kind of thing you have done in rats. They have been looking at endocrine responses to fenfluramine in humans as a marker of central serotonergic function. And they have observed an increase in serum prolactin concentration, which is felt to be due to serotonin release. They reported that, in subjects who received a seeond dose of fenfluramine within 12 days after the first dose, that there was a blunted response to serum prolactin. 

Steranka, L.R., and Sanders-Bush, E. Long-term effects of fenfluramine on central serotonergic mechanisms. Neuropharmacology 18 895-903, 1979. 

Schmidt, C.J., and Taylor, V.L. Direct central effects of acute methylenedioxymethamphetamine on serotonergic neurons. Eur J Pharmacol 156 121-131, 1988. 

Johnson, M. Letter, A.A. Merchant, K. Hanson. G.R. and Gibb, J.W. Effects of 3,4-methylenedioxyamphetamine and 3,4-methylenedioxymeth-amphetamine isomers on central serotonergic, dopaminergic and nigral neurotensin systems of the rat. J Pharmacol Exp Ther 244 977-982,... 

Moore, R.Y. The anatomy of central serotonergic neuron systems in the rat brain. In Jacobs, B.L., and Gelperin, A., eds. Serotonin Neurotransmission and Behavior. Cambridge, MA MIT Press, 1981. pp. 35-71. 

Plasma prolactin changes following fenfluramine in depressed patients compared to controls An evaluation of central serotonergic responsivity in depression. Life Sci 34 1029-1039, 1984. 

Aghajanian, G. K. Vandermaelen, C. P. (1982). Intracellular identification of central noradrenergic and serotonergic neurons by a new double labeling procedure. J. Neurosci 2, 1786-92. 

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