Serotonin also constricts veins, and venoconstriction with increased capillary filling appears to be responsible for the flush that is observed after serotonin administration or release from a carcinoid tumor. Serotonin has small direct positive chronotropic and inotropic effects on the heart, which are probably of no clinical significance. However, prolonged elevation of the blood level of serotonin (which occurs in carcinoid syndrome) is associated with pathologic alterations in the endocardium (subendocardial fibroplasia), which may result in valvular or electrical malfunction.
Serotonin causes blood platelets to aggregate by activating 5-HT2 receptors. This response, in contrast to aggregation induced during normal clot formation, is not accompanied by the release of serotonin stored in the platelets. The physiologic role of this effect is unclear.
4. Gastrointestinal tract—Serotonin is a powerful stimulant of gastrointestinal smooth muscle, increasing tone and facilitating peristalsis. This action is caused by the direct action of serotonin on 5-HT2 smooth muscle receptors plus a stimulating action on ganglion cells located in the enteric nervous system (see Chapter 6). 5-HT1A and 5-HT7 receptors may also be involved. Activation of 5-HT4 receptors in the enteric nervous system causes increased acetylcholine release and thereby mediates a motility-enhancing or “prokinetic” effect of selective serotonin agonists such as cisapride. These agents are useful in several gastrointestinal disorders (see Chapter 62). Overproduction of serotonin (and other substances) in carcinoid tumor is associated with severe diarrhea.
Serotonin has little effect on gastrointestinal secretions, and what effects it has are generally inhibitory.
5. Skeletal muscle and the eye—5-HT2 receptors are present on skeletal muscle membranes, but their physiologic role is not understood. As discussed in the box, serotonin syndrome is associated with skeletal muscle contractions and precipitated when MAO inhibitors are given with serotonin agonists, especially antidepressants of the selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor class (SSRIs; see Chapter 30). Although the hyperthermia of serotonin syndrome results from excessive muscle contraction, serotonin syndrome is probably caused by a central nervous system effect of these drugs (Table 16–4 and Box: Serotonin Syndrome and Similar Syndromes).
Studies in animal models of glaucoma indicate that 5-HT2A agonists reduce intraocular pressure. This action can be blocked by ketanserin and similar 5-HT2 antagonists.
Serotonin has no clinical applications as a drug. However, several receptor subtype-selective agonists have proved to be of value. Buspirone, a 5-HT1A agonist, has received attention as an
TABLE 16–4 Characteristics of serotonin syndrome and other hyperthermic syndromes.
1Precipitating drugs should be discontinued immediately. First-line therapy is in boldface font. LSD, lysergic acid diethylamide, MAOIs, monoamine oxidase inhibitors; MDMA, methylenedioxy-methamphetamine (ecstasy); SSRIs, selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors.
CHAPTER 16 Histamine, Serotonin, & the Ergot Alkaloids 289