Serotonin

Serotonin is a monoamine signaling molecule that acts as a neurotransmitter in the nervous system and as a chemical messenger elsewhere in the body. It helps regulate mood, digestion, sleep, and other functions.

Serotonin receptor: A cell-surface or intracellular protein that binds serotonin and triggers a specific cellular response. Different receptor families help explain why serotonin can produce varied effects across tissues.
Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor: An antidepressant that inhibits the serotonin transporter, increasing extracellular serotonin in the brain. SSRIs are widely used medicines whose primary target is serotonin reuptake.
Neurotransmitter: A chemical messenger released by neurons to communicate with other cells. Serotonin is one member of this broad class of neural messengers.
Serotonin hypothesis of depression: The proposal that deficient serotonin signaling is a primary cause of depression. This influential explanation is more simplistic than current evidence supports.
Serotonin transporter: A membrane protein that moves serotonin from the extracellular space back into cells. Reuptake by this transporter ends many serotonin signals and is targeted by common antidepressants.
Serotonin–norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor: An antidepressant that inhibits reuptake of both serotonin and norepinephrine. SNRIs broaden reuptake inhibition beyond serotonin alone.
Monoamine: An organic compound containing one amino group, including several major neurotransmitters. Serotonin belongs to this chemical family, which also includes dopamine and norepinephrine.
Depression: A mental disorder marked by persistent low mood or loss of interest and related symptoms. Depression is often attributed to serotonin, though its causes are multifactorial.
Tryptophan hydroxylase: An enzyme that catalyzes the rate-limiting step in serotonin synthesis from tryptophan. Its activity helps determine how much serotonin cells can produce.
Triptan: A drug that activates selected serotonin receptors and is used to treat migraine attacks. Triptans show that targeted serotonin-receptor activation can relieve migraine.

Linked from 47 pages