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Serotonin is a monoamine neurotransmitter synthesized in serotonergic neurons in the central nervous system and enterochromaffin cells in the gastrointestinal tract. In the central nervous system, serotonin is involved in the regulation of mood, sleep, emesis, sexuality, and appetite. It is thought to be significant in the biochemistry of depression, migraine, bipolar disorder, and anxiety. Serotonin is contained in brainstem (medulla and midbrain) neurons with descending projections to the spinal cord or ascending projections in the forebrain. Projections to spinothalamic and spinomesencephalic tract neurons are believed to have inhibitory and/or facilitatory influences on these projection neurons. Serotonin is also released by platelets and mast cells during the inflammatory response.
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© 2013 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg
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(2013). Serotonin. In: Gebhart, G.F., Schmidt, R.F. (eds) Encyclopedia of Pain. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-28753-4_202005
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-28753-4_202005
Publisher Name: Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg
Print ISBN: 978-3-642-28752-7
Online ISBN: 978-3-642-28753-4
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