title: Serotonin and apoptosis: studies on rat lymphocytes.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The apoptogenic potential of serotonin (5-hydroxytryptamine) on mitogen-stimulated lymphocytes was studied in primary cultures of rat spleen cells, in two sets of experiments.
  
  
  METHODS
  Apoptosis was measured by morphologic criteria and flow cytometry.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In both assays, serotonin, at a concentration producing half-maximal inhibition of lymphocyte proliferation, significantly increased the basal levels of apoptosis.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  An apoptotic mechanism should be taken into account when considering immunoinhibition induced by serotonin.
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular Genetics, Rudjer Boskovic Institute, Zagreb, Croatia.
authors.forename: Jasminka
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Stefulj
authors.forename: Sanjica
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Jakopec
authors.forename: Maja
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Osmak
authors.forename: Branimir
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Jernej
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology*; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D008214:Lymphocytes / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism*; D051381:Rats; D011985:Receptors, Serotonin / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology; D012701:Serotonin / Q000276:immunology* / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D011985:Receptors, Serotonin; D012701:Serotonin