Serotonin

Serotonin, or 5-hydroxytryptamine, is a substance that is mainly found in the enterochromaffin cells of the alimentary canal and in blood platelets, and in smaller quantities also in the brain. It is therefore a hormone (endocrine secretion in the digestive tract) and a neurotransmitter (secretion in the CNS). Serotonin is derived from the amino acid tryptophan, which is why it ranks among the so-called biogenic amines. The effects of serotonin include: Serotonergic neurons in the brain likely play an important role in altering circadian rhythms and inducing sleep
 * platelet aggregation,,
 * contraction of smooth muscle, especially vasoconstriction and stimulation of peristalsis of the digestive tract,
 * inducing nausea and vomiting by acting on the area postrema,
 * affecting mood (depression is associated with a lack of serotonin),
 * pain suppression

Related articles

 * Serotonin syndrome
 * Mediator systems of the CNS
 * Basic biogenic amines

Source

 * GANONG, William F. Přehled lékařské fyziologie. 20. vydání. Praha : Galén, 2005. 890 s. ISBN 80-7262-311-7.
 * GUYTON, Arthur C. a John E HALL. Textbook of Medical Physiology. 10. vydání. Philadelphia, Pa. : W. B. Saunders, 2000. ISBN 978-0721686776.