Serotonin receptors and their ligands: a lack of selective agents

Four major families of serotonin (5-hydroxytryptamine; 5-HT) receptors have been identified: 5-HT1, 5-HT2, 5-HT3 and 5-HT4. At this time, there is a general consensus that the 5-HT1 family can be further subdivided into 5-HT1A, 5-HT1B, 5-HT1C, 5-HT1D, and 5-HT1P subpopulations. In addition, there are several other populations of less well-defined 5-HT receptors. The purpose of this presentation is to discuss 5-HT receptor nomenclature and the agents that are commonly used to investigate each receptor population in as much as it will serve to provide background for the remainder of the symposium. There is presently available an abundance of serotonergic agents; however, these agents are only semiselective, and none can be considered truly selective for a particular population of 5-HT receptors. As useful as these agents have been for the identification and characterization of 5-HT receptors, there remains a need for the development of new, more selective ligands.