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 thought to be involved in social rank in some animals. For example, 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 (in en-us). blog.deliveringhappiness.com. 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.
- ↑ Stahl, S. M.. Mechanism of action of serotonin selective reuptake inhibitors. Serotonin receptors and pathways mediate therapeutic effects and side effects. Journal of Affective Disorders 51 (3) (December 1998). p. 215–235. doi:10.1016/s0165-0327(98)00221-3.
- ↑ Young, Simon N.. How to increase serotonin in the human brain without drugs. Journal of Psychiatry & Neuroscience : Jpn 32 (6) (November 2007). p. 394–399.
- ↑ Kang K, Park S, Kim YS, Lee S, Back K. Biosynthesis and biotechnological production of serotonin derivatives. Appl. Microbiol. Biotechnol. 83 (1) (2009). p. 27–34. doi:10.1007/s00253-009-1956-1.
- ↑ "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.
- ↑ Kravitz, E. A.. Hormonal control of behavior: amines and the biasing of behavioral output in lobsters. Science 241 (4874) (30 September 1988). p. 1775–1781. doi:10.1126/science.2902685.