Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 10, 2026

Generation of a Mouse Spontaneous Autoimmune Thyroiditis Model
Published on: March 17, 2023
Chronic peripheral administration of serotonin inhibits thyroid function in the rat
Alessio Sullo1, Guglielmo Brizzi, Nicola Maffulli
1Second University of Naples, Faculty of Medicine and Surgery, Department of Experimental Medicine, Human Physiology Section, Napoli, Italy (GB, AS).
Abstract:
We studied the effect of chronic intraperitoneal (ip) administration of serotonin (5-HT) and thyroid function. We injected daily intraperitoneally for 10 days different doses of 5-HT, and measured plasma thyroid hormones and TSH levels. There was a decrease in the plasma levels of T3 and T4 with medium doses of 5-HT (0.2 and 0.4 mg/Kg bw for T3, and 0.2 for T4). No effects were evidenced on the plasma levels of TSH. In normal environmental conditions, the site action of 5-HT outside the blood-brain barrier is active when the 5-HT is injected at defined doses. This is probably a result of down-regulation independent of the hypothalamus-pituitary-thyroid axis.
Related Concept Videos
Synthesis and Regulation of Thyroid Hormones
Upon reaching the thyroid gland, TSH stimulates the follicular cells' active uptake of iodide ions from the blood. The ions diffuse to the apical surface of the cells and are oxidized to iodine. The iodine is then...
Hypothyroidism II: Pathophysiology
Hyperthyroidism II: Pathophysiology
Hyperthyroidism I: Introduction
Graves Disease II: Pathophysiology
Functions of Thyroid Hormones
TH is indispensable for the normal development and maturation of the skeletal, muscular, and nervous systems during fetal and childhood growth. It facilitates bone mineral turnover and regulates protein synthesis in developing tissues, contributing significantly to overall growth and...