title: Serotonin and sensory nerves: meeting in the cardiovascular system.
abstract: Blood pressure regulation by 5-HT has proven to be a complex story to unravel. The work by Cuesta et al., in this issue of Vascular Pharmacology adds another layer of complexity by providing sound in vivo data that 5-HT, through the 5-HT7 receptor, can inhibit the vasodepressor actions of the sensory nervous system and thereby promote blood pressure maintenance. This interaction of 5-HT with the sensory nervous system is inhibitory, whereas 5-HT is understood to be stimulatory in other systems. Moreover, activation of the 5-HT7 receptor has been linked to both reduction and elevation of blood pressure. These interactions are discussed in this mini-review, as are potential steps forward in understanding the interplay of 5-HT, the sensory nervous system and blood pressure.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824-1317, USA. Electronic address: wattss@msu.edu.
authors.forename: Stephanie W
authors.initials: SW
authors.lastname: Watts
mesh_terms: D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D011985:Receptors, Serotonin / Q000502:physiology*; D012701:Serotonin / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D011985:Receptors, Serotonin; C104425:serotonin 7 receptor; D012701:Serotonin
keywords: 5-HT; 5-HT(7) receptor; Blood pressure; CGRP; Sensory nervous system