Serotonin in the Gut: What Does It Do?

Joel C Bornstein

doi:10.3389/fnins.2012.00016

Abstract

Serotonin in the Gut: What Does It Do?

Highlights

Reasons for this failure include that there are both neural and mucosal sources of serotonin within the gut and the widespread and overlapping distribution of specific serotonin receptor subtypes
Other myenteric neurons express 5-HT3 and 5-HT4 receptors and there is strong evidence that 5-HT3 receptors mediate fast excitatory synaptic potentials in some enteric neurons (Zhou and Galligan, 1999; Monro et al, 2004). 5-HT3 receptors are expressed by the mucosal terminals of the intrinsic sensory neurons (Bertrand et al, 2000; Bertrand and Bornstein, 2002) and mucosal application of serotonin activates local reflex pathways via 5-HT3 receptors (Gwynne and Bornstein, 2007) and enhances peristalsis via the same receptors (Tuladhar et al, 1997)
The approach has been surgical removal of colonic mucosa prior to analysis of a stereotyped motor pattern, the colonic migrating motor complex (CMMC), which is diminished by blocking 5-HT3 receptors

Summary

Introduction

Reasons for this failure include that there are both neural and mucosal sources of serotonin within the gut and the widespread and overlapping distribution of specific serotonin receptor subtypes. Any antagonist used to study the role of serotonin during complex behaviors will act at several different sites in the enteric circuitry. The idea is simple: remove mucosal serotonin and if CMMCs persist they cannot depend on release of serotonin from mucosal stores.

Results

Conclusion