title: Serotonin competence of mouse beta cells during pregnancy.
abstract: Pregnancy is a key mammalian reproductive event in which growth and differentiation of the fetus imposes extra metabolic and hormonal demands on the mother. Its successful outcome depends on major changes in maternal blood circulation, metabolism and endocrine function. One example is the endocrine pancreas, where beta cells undergo a number of changes in pregnancy that result in enhanced functional beta cell mass in order to compensate for the rising metabolic needs for maternal insulin. During the last 5 years, a series of studies have increased our understanding of the molecular events involved in this functional adaptation. In the mouse, a prominent functional change during pregnancy is the capacity of some beta cells to produce serotonin. In this review we will discuss the mechanism and potential effects of pregnancy-related serotonin production in beta cells, considering functional consequences at the local intra-islet and systemic level.
authors.affiliation: Gene Expression Unit, Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, KU Leuven, Herestraat 49, box 901, 3000, Leuven, Belgium.
authors.forename: Lotte
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Goyvaerts
authors.affiliation: Gene Expression Unit, Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, KU Leuven, Herestraat 49, box 901, 3000, Leuven, Belgium.
authors.forename: Anica
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Schraenen
authors.affiliation: Gene Expression Unit, Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, KU Leuven, Herestraat 49, box 901, 3000, Leuven, Belgium. Frans.Schuit@med.kuleuven.be.
authors.forename: Frans
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Schuit
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D005260:Female; D050417:Insulin-Secreting Cells / Q000378:metabolism; D007515:Islets of Langerhans / Q000378:metabolism*; D051379:Mice; D011247:Pregnancy; D011981:Receptors, Prolactin / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D012701:Serotonin / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D014365:Tryptophan Hydroxylase / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D011981:Receptors, Prolactin; D012701:Serotonin; D014365:Tryptophan Hydroxylase
keywords: Beta cells; Heterogeneity; Islets; Mouse; Placental lactogen; Pregnancy; Prolactin receptor; Review; Serotonin; Tryptophan hydroxylase