Serotonin: The Mediator that Spans Evolution

Serotonin: The Mediator That Spans Evolution provides a comprehensive review of the widespread roles for serotonin in respiratory, cardiovascular and thermoregulatory control, and for growth and development in early life. This important resource highlights serotonin’s role in normal (unstressed) conditions, and in response to a variety of physiological stressors. It focuses on new animal models, comparing and contrasting data from mice and rats. In addition, the book compares and contrasts the physiological effects of brain and blood serotonin systems and includes new data suggesting that the influence of serotonin is in part through the regulation of gene expression.

Finally, it discusses the role of serotonin system dysfunction in a variety of pathophysiological conditions, including sleep apnea, obesity and hypertension, and presents compelling evidence that this dysfunction is involved in Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS).

Includes the latest information on new animal models of serotonin system dysfunctionExplores the wide scope of serotonin’s influence on multiple organ and physiological systemsHighlights the autonomous functioning of the brain and body serotonin systemsProvides compelling evidence of serotonin dysfunction in SIDS, a leading cause of death in infancy

BIOPHYSICS OF SEROTONIN 1. Biophysics of Serotonin and the Serotonin1A Receptor: Fluorescence and Dynamics 2. Serotonin in plants: origin, function, and implications

ANATOMY 3. The anatomy of the serotonin system in different model systems: rat fish, flies and C. Elegans 4. Serotonin in the endocrine pancreas 5. Serotonin and platelets 6. Anatomy of the Serotonin Transporter

PHYSIOLOGY IN THE PERIPHERY 7. Cellular regulation of peripheral serotonin 8. Role of 5-HT in the control of gut motility 9. Phenotype of animals deficient in peripheral serotonin 10. Serotonin and immune system 11. Serotonin and Adipocyte Function 12. Serotonin and cardiovascular diseases 13. Involvement of 5-HT in afferent modulation of brainstem circuits regulating cardiovascular homeostasis 14. Regulation of nociceptor signalling by serotonin

PHYSIOLOGY IN THE BRAIN 15. Brain serotonin and energy homeostasis 16. Serotonin in central cardiovascular control 17. Serotonin receptors and cardiovascular control 18. Serotonin receptors as the therapeutic target for central nervous system disorders 19. Serotonin and the reconfiguration of the eupneic respiratory pattern 20. Life without brain serotonin: phenotype of animals deficient in central serotonin synthesis