Serotonin-producing Enterochromaffin Cells Research Articles

Experimental model with an additional source of endogenous serotonin

The only experimental approach to the increase in the body serotonin level is a pharmacological one that has a number of shortcomings. The authors suggest an experimental model with additional source of endogenous serotonin (ASS-model) which occurs after embryonal gastrointestinal tract transplantation beneath the skin of adult syngeneic mice. The developing transplants showed significant amounts of serotonin and serotonin-producing enterochromaffin cells. The ASS-model provides long-term and selective increase in the blood serotonin content (by 40% on the average) with no changes being detected in the brain. This model may be used for studies on the role of serotonin in peripheral regulation of the physiological systems.