title: Central serotonin2C receptor: from physiology to pathology.
abstract: Since the 1950s, when serotonin (5-HT) was discovered in the mammalian central nervous system (CNS), an enormous amount of experimental evidence has revealed the pivotal role of this biogenic amine in a number of cognitive and behavioural functions. Although 5-HT is synthesized by a small group of neurons within the raphe nuclei of the brain stem, almost all parts of the CNS receive serotonergic projections. Furthermore, the importance of 5-HT modulation and the fine-tuning of its action is underlined by the large number of 5-HT binding sites found in the CNS. Hitherto, up to 15 different 5-HT receptors subtypes have been identified. This review was undertaken to summarize the work that has explored the pathophysiological role of one of these receptors, the 5-HT2C receptor, that has been emerged as a prominent central serotonin receptor subtype. The physiology, pharmacology and anatomical distribution of the 5-HT2C receptors in the CNS will be firstly reviewed. Finally, their potential involvement in the pathophysiology of depression, schizophrenia, Parkinson's disease and drug abuse will be also discussed.
authors.affiliation: Dipartimento di Medicina Sperimentale, Sezione di Fisiologia Umana G. Pagano, Università di Palermo, C.so Tuköry, 129 I-90134 Palermo, Italy.
authors.forename: Giuseppe
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Di Giovanni
authors.forename: Vincenzo
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Di Matteo
authors.forename: Massimo
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Pierucci
authors.forename: Arcangelo
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Benigno
authors.forename: Ennio
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Esposito
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D006801:Humans; D011487:Protein Conformation; D044405:Receptor, Serotonin, 5-HT2C / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000378:metabolism; D015398:Signal Transduction
chemical_list: D044405:Receptor, Serotonin, 5-HT2C