title: Serotoninergic mechanisms in human feeding: the pharmacological evidence.
abstract: This paper reviews the evidence of serotoninergic mechanisms in human feeding by considering the effects of 5-HT agonists, precursors and receptor antagonists on hunger, food intake and weight change in normal volunteers, obese people and psychiatric patients. Although there is compelling evidence for a serotonin (5-HT) mechanism being involved, the paper highlights the considerable individual variation in response to pharmacological manipulation of 5-HT. Such variation may reflect differences in the bio-availability of the drugs used. Subtle psychological factors may also play a role in blurring the pharmacological evidence for 5-HT involvement in the highly complex activity of human feeding.
mesh_terms: D000639:Amitriptyline / Q000494:pharmacology; D014150:Antipsychotic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D003533:Cyproheptadine / Q000494:pharmacology; D004032:Diet; D005247:Feeding Behavior / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D005277:Fenfluramine / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005518:Food Preferences / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D006815:Hunger / Q000502:physiology; D008711:Metergoline / Q000494:pharmacology; D008784:Methysergide / Q000494:pharmacology; D009424:Nervous System Physiological Phenomena; D009765:Obesity / Q000188:drug therapy; D012528:Satiety Response / Q000502:physiology; D012701:Serotonin / Q000502:physiology*; D009435:Synaptic Transmission; D014364:Tryptophan / Q000494:pharmacology; D015031:Zimeldine / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D014150:Antipsychotic Agents; D008711:Metergoline; D000639:Amitriptyline; D005277:Fenfluramine; D003533:Cyproheptadine; D012701:Serotonin; D015031:Zimeldine; D014364:Tryptophan; D008784:Methysergide