Serotonin
Serotonin is a neurotransmitter. Its chemical name is 5-Hydroxytryptamine or 5-HT. It is derived from tryptophan. Serotonin is found in all vertebrates, mainly in the gastrointestinal tract, blood platelets and central nervous system. Its name is derived from its effect on blood pressure: serotonin is a part of the serum which regulates the tonus of blood vessels.
Serotonin does several jobs within the human body. Unlike dopamine, serotonin causes happiness, while dopamine causes pleasure.[1] It is believed to regulate mood, intestinal activity and appetite, memory, and sleep. Many antidepressant medications are thought to work by increasing the levels of serotonin in the body[2][3] even though depression is not caused by low serotonin. Some non-medical treatments for depression have also been shown to raise serotonin levels.[4]
Serotonin is also found in insect venom, fungi and plants.[5] Its presence in the seeds of many fruits helps speed those seeds through the digestive tract of animals that consume them.[6] In insect venom, it causes pain, and sometimes death, through its effect on smooth muscle contraction.[7]
Serotonin is involved in social rank. A lobster injected with serotonin behaves like an alpha male.[8]
Serotonin Media
Serotonin system, contrasted with the dopamine system
The pathway for the synthesis of serotonin from tryptophan
References
- ↑ Kauper, Gabriel. "Happiness vs. Pleasure and Why it Matters at Work". blog.deliveringhappiness.com. Archived from the original on 2022-07-01. Retrieved 2022-03-19.
- ↑ "Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs)" (in en). Mayo Clinic. https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/depression/in-depth/ssris/art-20044825. Retrieved 2018-05-30.
- ↑ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Identifiers at line 630: attempt to index field 'known_free_doi_registrants_t' (a nil value).
- ↑ Young, Simon N. (November 2007). "How to increase serotonin in the human brain without drugs". Journal of Psychiatry & Neuroscience : Jpn. 32 (6): 394–399. ISSN 1180-4882. PMC 2077351. PMID 18043762.
- ↑ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Identifiers at line 630: attempt to index field 'known_free_doi_registrants_t' (a nil value).
- ↑ "Serotonin in Plants" (in en). News-Medical.net. 2009-12-11. https://www.news-medical.net/health/Serotonin-in-Plants.aspx. Retrieved 2018-05-30.
- ↑ Inglis-Arkell, Esther. "Why is There Serotonin in Animal Venom?" (in en-US). io9. https://io9.gizmodo.com/why-is-there-serotonin-in-animal-venom-1728495050. Retrieved 2018-05-30.
- ↑ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Identifiers at line 630: attempt to index field 'known_free_doi_registrants_t' (a nil value).