5-HT in systemic hypertension: foe, friend or fantasy?
Since its discovery by Erspamer in the 1930s and identification by Page in the 1950s, 5-HT (5-hydroxytryptamine; serotonin) has been an elusive candidate as a substance that plays a role in the disease of high blood pressure, also known as hypertension. In both animal and human hypertension, arterial contraction to 5-HT is profoundly enhanced. Additionally, 5-HT is a vascular smooth muscle cell mitogen. Because both increased arterial contractility and smooth muscle growth contribute to the disease of hypertension, it is logical to believe that 5-HT is a potential cause of disease, and thus a foe. However, decades of research have produced conflicting results as to the potential role of 5-HT in hypertension. This review will discuss historical findings which both support and refute the involvement of 5-HT in hypertension, and pose some new questions that may reveal novel ways for 5-HT to modify vascular control of blood pressure.
Watts
Stephanie W
SW
Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, B445 Life Sciences Building, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824-1317, USA. watts@msu.edu
D000818:Animals; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000503:physiopathology*; D051381:Rats; D011985:Receptors, Serotonin / Q000502:physiology; D012701:Serotonin / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000502:physiology*; D014661:Vasoconstriction / Q000187:drug effects
D011985:Receptors, Serotonin; D012701:Serotonin