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Rapid In Situ Hybridization using Oligonucleotide Probes on Paraformaldehyde-prefixed Brain of Rats with Serotonin Syndrome

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Published on: September 23, 2015

Elevation of brain serotonin during dying.

Alexander Wutzler¹, Paraskevi Mavrogiorgou, Christine Winter

¹Dept. of Psychiatry, Charité Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany. alexander.wutzler@charite.de

Neuroscience Letters

|May 7, 2011

Summary

Neurobiological changes during dying were studied by measuring serotonin levels. Researchers found a threefold increase in serotonin as brain activity ceased, suggesting a neuroprotective role that may ease the dying process.

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Area of Science:

Neurobiology
Neuroscience
Biochemistry

Background:

Death and dying are fundamental biological processes.
Neurobiological mechanisms underlying the dying process remain poorly understood.
Serotonin is an ancient neurotransmitter with diverse physiological roles.

Purpose of the Study:

To investigate neurobiological changes during the dying process.
To measure extracellular serotonin levels in real-time during dying.
To explore the potential role of the serotonergic system in the experience of dying.

Main Methods:

Continuous measurement of extracellular serotonin levels.
Simultaneous electroencephalogram (EEG) recording to monitor brain activity.
In vivo monitoring during the dying phase of an organism.

Main Results:

A significant threefold increase in extracellular serotonin levels was observed.
Brain electrical activity, as measured by EEG, declined to zero.
The rise in serotonin coincided with the cessation of brain activity.

Conclusions:

The serotonergic system may exhibit neuroprotective functions during dying.
Increased serotonin levels could contribute to a subjectively easier dying experience.
The mood-enhancing properties of serotonin might play a role in mitigating distress during death.