A neurotransmitter with an indole structure found both in peripheral ganglia and in the central nervous system. Its transmitter functions in the central nervous system are less clearly demonstrable than in the gastrointestinal tract. It is implicated indirectly in the psychobiology of depression.
An important neurochemical whose effects upon the human brain include mood elevation. Production of serotonin in the brain is increased by ingestion of the amino acid tryptophan (a chemical precursor to serotonin) and the pharmaceutical anti-depressant Prozac (trademarked product of Eli Lilly & Company). In 1997, Marianne Regard and Theodor Landis discovered that humans afflicted with hemorrhagic lesions in the brain (cause of abnormal serotonin activation/production) often became “passionate culinary afficionados.”
Serotonin is thought of as the brain’s primary mood-boosting transmitter associated with feelings of contentment, and it’s one of the main pathways for the action of antidepressant drugs, the selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs).
A compound made from the amino acid tryptophan that serves as one of the brain’s principal neurotransmitters. When a person eats a meal the level of serotonin is raised or lowered—depending on the amounts of proteins, carbohydrates, and other substances consumed—and this level may affect mood.
A neurotransmitter found primarily in the upper brainstem may prevent overreaction to various stimuli and regulate the release of hypothalamic hormones that in turn regulate the pituitary’s release of gonadotropins.
A chemical found in serum and various tissues that acts like epinephrine (adrenaline).
A compound which is a neurotransmitter and exists mainly in blood platelets. It is released after tissue is injured and is important in sleep, mood and vasoconstriction.
A neurotransmitter found in the brain that regulates relaxation, sleep and concentration.
A neurotransmitter synthesized in the CNS from tryptophan. It serves a number of roles in the body, from mood regulation to food intake regulation. In the latter, it serves as a satiety factor.
Serotonin is a neurotransmitter produced in the brain from tryptophan with 5-hydroxytryptophan as an intermediate in the pathway. Serotonin produces changes in mood that can include feelings of sleepiness and mellowness. An increase in serotonin production has been linked to increased uptake of branched chain amino acids by working muscles when carbohydrate stores become depleted. This process has been implicated in the production of fatigue and describes what has been termed the central fatigue theory, which is described more completely in a separate entry.
brain neurotransmitter that creates emotional stability, confidence, and pain tolerance. Serotonin also aids restful sleep, improves self-esteem, prevents cravings for sugar and alcohol, and helps prevent nighttime depression and worry.
A neurotransmitter located in the CNS that is important in many functions including mood, arousal, and inhibition of painful stimuli.
Chemical widely distributed in the body, esp. in the brain, where it acts as a neurotransmitter; in the blood platelets, upon an injury, it acts as a vasoconstrictor; and in the small intestine it stimulates smooth muscle to contract.
A neurotransmitter in the central nervous system which stimulates smooth- muscle contraction in the intestinal tract.
A chemical that functions primarily to transmit signals between the nerve cells of the human brain. Abnormally low levels of serotonin are associated with depression, obsessive-compulsive disorder, and eating disorders. Serotonin is also known as 5-hydroxy-tryptamine (5-HT).
A compound widely distributed in the tissues, particularly in the blood platelets, intestinal wall, and central nervous system. It is thought to play a role in inflammation similar to that of histamine and it also possibly acts as a neurotransmitter, especially concerned with the process of sleep.
Also known as 5-hydroxytryptamine, this is a substance widely distributed in the body tissue, but especially in the platelets in the blood, the lining of the gastrointestinal tract, and the brain. Serotonin is believed to-have a similar function to that of histamine in inflammation. In the gut it inhibits gastric secretion and stimulates smooth (involuntary) muscle in the walls of the intestine. Serotonin participates in the transmission of nerve impulses and may have a function in controlling mood and states of consciousness.
A chemical, 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT), found in platelets, the gastrointestinal mucosa, mast cells, carcinoid tumors, and the central nervous system. Serotonin is a vasoconstrictor, and through its action on cellular receptors, it plays important roles in intestinal motility, nausea and vomiting, sleep-wake cycles, obsessive-compulsive behaviors, depression, and eating.
Serotonin is a biochemical agent that functions as a neurotransmitter, promoting a state of tranquility, augmented satisfaction, an optimistic outlook, satiety, and regulation of appetite. As a natural feel-good substance and an influential weight management drug, it reigns supreme. It curbs the proclivity to engage in binge-eating and oversees stimuli that would otherwise trigger an insatiable appetite.
5-Hydroxytryptamine, commonly known as serotonin, is a substance found extensively throughout the body, exerting various effects including neurotransmission. Insufficient levels of serotonin have been implicated in certain forms of depression.
Also referred to as 5-hydroxytryptamine or 5HT, serotonin is a compound present in various tissues, notably in blood platelets, the lining of the digestive tract, and the brain. When bleeding occurs, serotonin is released from platelets to constrict small blood vessels, minimizing blood loss. In the digestive system, it curtails gastric secretions while stimulating the smooth muscles in the intestinal walls. In the brain, serotonin functions as a neurotransmitter, facilitating the transfer of signals between nerve cells. Levels of serotonin are typically low in individuals suffering from depression, but certain antidepressants can elevate these levels. Serotonin agonists are utilized to manage acute migraine episodes.