In the 1990s, serotonin receptor agonist 5-HT1B/1D (the triptans) became available on the market for migraine treatment. Although the triptans are highly effective in aborting migraine attacks, the vasoconstrictor effect in cerebral and coronary territory limits their use. In the “post-triptans” era, new molecules, without vasoactive components are about to expand migraine treatment armamentari...

AIM To investigate the effects of two serotonin receptor antagonists on spontaneous behavior in rats. MATERIAL AND METHOD The experiment was carried out on white male Wistar rats (150-200g) divided into 3 groups of 6 animals each, treated intraperitoneally with the same volume of solution as follows: Group I (Control): saline solution 0.1 ml/10 g weight; Group II (SB-269970): SB-269970 1 mg/k...

The patterns of storage and release of serotonin found in the enterochromaffin cells of the intestinal mucosa suggest that this hormone may be an important modulator of intestinal functions. Serotonin has been shown to produce secretion of water and electrolytes in rabbit ileum, but the hormone does not appear to interact significantly with other transport processes. The aim of the present stud...

Niacin lowers serum cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein, and triglycerides, and it raises high-density lipoprotein. However, most patients experience cutaneous warmth and vasodilation (flush). Acetylsalicylic acid (ASA) can reduce this flush, presumably by decreasing prostaglandin D(2) (PGD(2)) release from macrophages. Here, we show that methylnicotinate induces significant PGD(2) release fro...

Abbreviations: CRH: Corticotropin Releasing Hormone; CRH1: Corticotropin Releasing Hormone Receptor; CSF: Cerebro Spinal Fluid; D2: Dopaminergic Subreceptor; GABA: Gamma Amino Butyric Acid; GABAA: Gamma-Aminobutyric Acid Subtype A Receptors; GABAB: Gamma-Aminobutyric Acid Subtype B Receptors; Gal2: Galanin 2; 5-HT: Serotonergic Receptor; 5-HT1A: 5-Hydroxytryptamine 1A Receptors; 5-HT7: 5-hydrox...

The serotonin(1A) receptor is a representative member of the G-protein coupled receptor (GPCR) superfamily and serves as an important target in the development of therapeutic agents for neuropsychiatric disorders. Oligomerization of GPCRs is an important contemporary issue since it is believed to be a crucial determinant for cellular signaling. In this work, we monitored the oligomerization sta...

Recent evidence indicates that leptin regulates appetite and energy expenditure, at least in part by inhibiting serotonin synthesis and release from brainstem neurons. To demonstrate that this pathway works postnatally, we used a conditional, brainstem-specific mouse CreER(T2) driver to show that leptin signals in brainstem neurons after birth to decrease appetite by inhibiting serotonin synthe...

Background Myostatin (MSTN), a member of the transforming growth factor beta family, negatively regulates skeletal muscle mass. Deletion of the Mstn gene results in increased muscle mass. Also, Mstn-/mice and mice expressing a dominant negative MSTN receptor (activin receptor type IIB, ACVR2B) show decreased adipose tissue. Mstn-/mice fed a high fat diet gain less weight, have improved glucose ...