Serotonin and the blood vessel wall.
When the local concentration of serotonin is raised during platelet aggregation, the direct effect of serotonin on vascular smooth muscle is to activate the contractile process. Serotonin also amplifies the constrictor responses to other neurohumoral mediators. Vascular smooth muscle can become hyperreactive to the vasoconstrictor effects of serotonin both acutely (e.g., local cold, hypoxia) and chronically (e.g., atherosclerosis, hypertension). Vasodilator responses to serotonin can be unmasked by blockade of its vasoconstrictor component. The inhibition by ketanserin of the various vasoconstrictor and platelet-aggregating effects of serotonin presumably contributes to the therapeutic effects of the compound.
Van Nueten
J M
JM
D000818:Animals; D004347:Drug Interactions; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D007650:Ketanserin; D009131:Muscle, Smooth, Vascular / Q000502:physiology*; D010880:Piperidines / Q000494:pharmacology; D012701:Serotonin / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000502:physiology*; D012702:Serotonin Antagonists / Q000494:pharmacology; D014661:Vasoconstriction / Q000187:drug effects; D014664:Vasodilation / Q000187:drug effects
D010880:Piperidines; D012702:Serotonin Antagonists; D012701:Serotonin; D007650:Ketanserin