Serotonin function

Salomon, RM, Miller, HL, Delgado, PL and Charney, D (1993) The use of tryptophan depletion to evaluate central serotonin function in depression and other neuropsychiatric disorders. Int. J. Clin. Psychopharmacol. 8 41-46. 

There is as yet little evidence of specific association between abnormal serotonin activity and any of the key cognitive features of autism. More circumscribed study of particular cognitive functions of autism may yet yield new insights. Perhaps most promisingly, the findings of associations between serotonin functioning and obsessional behaviour indicate the need for further investigation. 

Kahn RS, Wetzler S (1991) m-Chlorophenylpiperazine as a probe of serotonin function. Biol Psychiatry 30 1139-1166... 

Veltman DJ, van Zijderveld GA, van Dyck R (1996) Epinephrine infusions in panic disorder a double-blind placebo-controlled study. J Affect Disord 39 133-140 Westenberg HGM, Den Boer JA (1989) Serotonin fimction in panic disorder effect of L-5-hydroxytryptophan in patients and controls. Psychopharmacology (Berl) 98 283-285 Wetzler S, Asnis GM, DeLecuona JM (1996) Serotonin function in panic disorder intravenous administration of meta-chlorophenylpiperazine. Psychiatry Res 62 77-82 Wiedemann K, Jahn H, Yassom-idis A, Kellner M (2001) Anxiolyticlike effects of atrial natrim-etic peptide on cholecystokinin tetrapeptide-induced panic attacks. Arch Gen Psychiatry 58 371-377... 

Charney, D.S., Woods, S.W., Krystal, J.H., and Heninger, G.R. (1990) Serotonin function and human anxiety disorders. AnnNY Acad Set 600 558-573. 

McDougle, C.J., Posey, D.J., and Potenza, M.N. (in press) Neurobiology of serotonin function in autism. In Hollander, E. and Delaney, K., eds. Diagnosis and Treatment of Autism. New York Marcel Dekker. 

Panic attacks, dissociative episodes, and flashbacks appear to be related to serotonin function (Southwick et ah, 1991). Thus, there are significant phenomenological overlaps between PTSD symptoms and their comorbid conditions that share mediation by serotonergic systems. 

Evidence from numerous preclinical and clinical studies suggests that dysfunction of serotonin neurons plays a role in the pathophysiology of anxiety. Since the early 1980s, the classic hypothesis of serotonin function in anxiety has suggested that the serotonin system promotes anxiety, whereas suppression of this system diminishes it. The discovery of numerous serotonin recep-... 

Manipulation of the serotonergic system in animal models can be implemented with several strategies inhibition of serotonin synthesis, destruction of serotonin neurons, use of serotonin antagonists, and increase of serotonin function. 

Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitor Plus Agents That May Affect Serotonin Function... 

INVESTIGATIONS OF SEROTONIN FUNCTION ON LEARNING AND MEMORY IN ANIMALS... 

Early experiments that attempted to increase serotonin function were necessarily restricted to drug treatments that caused a generalized effect throughout the brain and presumably were influencing all serotonin receptors. Using this approach, the systemic administration of 5-hydroxytryptophan, to in-... 

The first neurochemical evidence of a disturbed serotonin function in cognition came from the changes in serotonin and/or 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid (5-HIAA) levels in a number of forebrain nuclei, the temporal and cingulate cortex, hippocampus, and other areas of the brain taken at autopsy from patients with senile dementia of the Alzheimer s type (Adolfsson et al. 1978 Arai et al. 1984 D. M. Bowen et al. 1979, 1983 A. J. Cross et al. 1983 Winblad et al. 1982). The depletions are regionally selective reductions in se-... 

EFFECTOR DRUC INFLUENCINC SEROTONIN FUNCTION ON COCNITIVE IMPAIRMENTS IN HUMANS... 

In this chapter, we have reviewed the sites and mechanisms of drug action that may modify serotonin function relevant to cognition. A substantial number of animal studies have revealed that an agonist action at the 5-HTj, recep-... 

Charney DS, Nelson JC Delusional and nondelusional unipolar depression further evidence for distinct subtypes. Am J Psychiatry 138 328-333, 1981 Charney DS, Menekes DB, Heninger GR Receptor sensitivity and the mechanism of action of antidepressant treatment. Arch Gen Psychiatry 38 1160-1180, 1981 Charney DS, Price LH, Heninger GR Desipramine-yohimbine combination treatment for refractory depression. Arch Gen Psychiatry 43 1155-1161, 1986 Charney DS, Goodman WK, Price LH, et al Serotonin function in OGD a comparison of the effects of tryptophan and mGPP in patients and healthy subjects. Arch Gen Psychiatry 45 177-185, 1988... 

Delgado PL, Charney DS, Price LH, et al Serotonin function and the mechanism of antidepressant action reversal of antidepressant-induced remission by rapid depletion of plasma tryptophan. Arch Gen Psychiatry 47 411-418, 1990b Delgado PL, Price LH, Miller HL, et al Rapid serotonin depletion as a provocative challenge test for patients with major depression relevance to antidepressant action and the neurobiology of depression. Psychopharmacol Bull 27 321-330, 1991... 

Pandey GN. Altered serotonin function in suicide. Evidence from platelet and neuroendocrine studies. Ann NY Acad Sci 1997 836 182-200. 

The clinical implications of such data point to a relationship between abnormalities in the central serotonin system and self-injurious behavior. These findings have led to an interest in developing specific drugs that alter 5-HT activity to treat suicidality, impulsivity, and aggressivity independent of any specific psychiatric disorder. Central serotonin function can be enhanced by agents such as lithium and various serotonin reuptake inhibitors. Recent studies have found that the use of such agents is associated with reductions in the likelihood of suicide attempts and completions in both patients with major depression and those with cluster... 

Price LH, Charney DS, Delgado PL, et al. Serotonin function and depression neuroendocrine and mood responses to intravenous L-tryptophan in depressed patients and healthy comparison subjects. Am J Psychiatry 1991 148 1518-1525. 

Delgado PL, Charney DS, Price LH, et al. Serotonin function and the mechanism of antidepressant action reversal of antidepressant induced remission by rapid depletion of plasma tryptophan. Arch Gen Psychiatry 1990 47 411-418. 

Lithium carbonate and lithium citrate are the most commonly used compounds. Lithium has effects on cation transport, on individual neurotransmitters (including 5-HT) and on intracellular second messenger systems. Which of these is key to its therapeutic efficacy is not entirely clear but, as for the antidepressant drugs, the net effects seem to be to enhance serotonin function and to stabilise the noradrenergic system. Once lithium treatment is established it is very important that it is not suddenly stopped as this may result in rebound hypomania. 

Naturally Occurring Compounds. Many derivatives of indole arc found in plants and animals where they are derived from the amino acid [ryplophan. Several oT ihese have important biological function or activity. Serotonin functions as a neuroiransinitler and vasoconstrictor Melatonin production is controlled by the circadian cycle and its physiological level influences daily and seasonal rhythms in humans and other species. Indole-3-acelic acid is a plant growth stimulant used in several horticultural applications. 

Dopamine and obsessive-compulsive disorder. Up to 40% of OCD patients do not respond to SSRIs, Thus, at least some OCD patients fail to demonstrate convincing dys-regulation in serotonin function. Therefore, other neurotransmitters may be involved in the pathophysiology of OCD in some patients. 

Despite the relative scarcity of serotonin in your brain, drugs that alter serotonin function can produce profound changes in... 

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