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Updated: Aug 16, 2025

The 4-vessel Sampling Approach to Integrative Studies of Human Placental Physiology In Vivo
Published on: August 2, 2017
Serotonin system in the human placenta - the knowns and unknowns
Maja Perić1, Ivona Bečeheli1, Lipa Čičin-Šain1
1Laboratory of Neurochemistry and Molecular Neurobiology, Division of Molecular Biology, Ruđer Bošković Institute, Zagreb, Croatia.
Abstract:
The biogenic monoamine serotonin (5-hydroxytryptamine, 5-HT) is a chemical messenger widely distributed in the brain and various other organs. Its homeostasis is maintained by the coordinated activity of a variety of proteins, including enzymes of serotonin metabolism, transmembrane transporters of serotonin, and serotonin receptors. The serotonin system has been identified also in the placenta in rodent models as a key component of placental physiology. However, serotonin pathways in the human placenta are far from well understood. Their alterations may have long-lasting consequences for the fetus that can manifest later in life. In this review, we summarize information on the location of the components of the serotonin system in the human placenta, their regulation, function, and alterations in pathological pregnancies. We highlight current controversies and discuss important topics for future research.
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