This Article Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Request Permissions Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Kuhn, D. M. Articles by Lovenberg, W. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Kuhn, D. M. Articles by Lovenberg, W.

Hypertension, Vol 2, 243-255, Copyright © 1980 by American Heart Association

ARTICLES

Review of the role of the central serotonergic neuronal system in blood pressure regulation

DM Kuhn, WA Wolf and W Lovenberg

Alterations in the dynamics of brain serotonin biosynthesis can lead to changes in cardiovascular function. It appears that the activation of cerebral serotonin receptors produces a pressor effect in normotensive rats but produces a depressor effect in normotensive cats or dogs. On the other hand, reductions in the levels of serotonin can prevent the onset of hypertension in some experimental hypertensive models and lower the blood pressure of organisms with established hypertension. The ability of brain serotonin to modulate arterial blood pressure may be mediated by the influences of the serotonergic neuronal systems on efferent sympathetic activity. Finally, the reduction in sympathetic outflow produced by increasing brain serotonin levels in dogs protects the heart against ventricular fibrillation and may, therefore, constitute a reasonable adjunct in the management of high-risk, cardiac- arrest patients.

This article has been cited by other articles:

				J. C. Guzman, R. G. Garcia, R. Dillenburg, F. S. Sieger, P. Lopez-Jaramillo, and C. A. Morillo Central serotoninergic response to orthostatic challenge in patients with neurocardiogenic syncope. Europace, April 1, 2006; 8(4): 306 - 311. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				B. P. Grubb Neurocardiogenic Syncope N. Engl. J. Med., March 10, 2005; 352(10): 1004 - 1010. [Full Text] [PDF]

				J. A. Moffitt and A. K. Johnson Short-term fluoxetine treatment enhances baroreflex control of sympathetic nervous system activity after hindlimb unloading Am J Physiol Regulatory Integrative Comp Physiol, March 1, 2004; 286(3): R584 - R590. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				M.R. Pranzatelli, S.G. Pavlakis, R.J. Gould, and D.C. De Vivo Hypothalamic-Midbrain Dysregulation Syndrome: Hypertension, Hyperthermia, Hyperventilation, and Decerebration J Child Neurol, April 1, 1991; 6(2): 115 - 122. [Abstract] [PDF]