The love of a lifetime: 5-HT in the cardiovascular system

Serotonin [5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT)] is an amine made from the essential amino acid tryptophan. 5-HT serves numerous functions in the body, including mood, satiety, and gastrointestinal function. Less understood is the role 5-HT plays in the cardiovascular system, although 5-HT receptors have been localized to every important cardiovascular organ and 5-HT-induced changes in physiological function attributed to activation of these receptors. This manuscript relates a few scientific stories that test the idea that 5-HT is important to the control of normal vascular tone, more so in the hypertensive condition. Currently, our laboratory is faced with two different lines of experimentation from which one could draw vastly different conclusions as to the ability of 5-HT to modify endogenous vascular tone and blood pressure. Studies point to 5-HT being important in maintaining high blood pressure, but other studies solidly support the ability of 5-HT to reduce elevated blood pressure. This work underscores that our knowledge of the functions of 5-HT in the cardiovascular system is significantly incomplete. As such, this field is an exciting one in which to be, because there are superb questions to be asked.