title: 5-hydroxytryptamine receptors as targets for drug therapies of vascular-related diseases.
abstract: 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) is involved in regulation of both physiological and pathophysiological conditions in tissues throughout the body. 5-HT induces vascular smooth muscle constriction in most vessels. The vasoconstrictive effects of 5-HT are mediated by 5-HT1B and 5-HT2A receptors located on the membrane of smooth muscle cells, except in the intracranial arteries which constrict only through 5-HT1B receptors. 5-HT also acts as vasodilator because it releases nitric oxide from endothelial cells. This response is dominantly mediated by 5-HT1B receptors but not by 5-HT2A receptors. In this review, we focus on the action of 5-HT via G protein-coupled 5-HT receptors involved in some vascular-related pathophysiological responses. Furthermore, we describe the possibilities of 5-HT receptors as targets for drug therapy against saphenous vein grafts diseases (especially in patients with diabetes mellitus), migraine and pulmonary arterial hypertension.
authors.affiliation: First Department of Pharmacology, Graduate School of Clinical Pharmacy, Kyushu University of Health and Welfare.
authors.forename: Shuji
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Gamoh
authors.forename: Hiroaki
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Hisa
authors.forename: Ryuichi
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Yamamoto
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001026:Coronary Artery Bypass; D065627:Familial Primary Pulmonary Hypertension; D006801:Humans; D006976:Hypertension, Pulmonary / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000378:metabolism; D008881:Migraine Disorders / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000378:metabolism; D011985:Receptors, Serotonin / Q000378:metabolism*; D012501:Saphenous Vein; D014652:Vascular Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D011985:Receptors, Serotonin