Multiple serotonin receptors: Too many, not enough, or just the right number?

• Published in: Neuroscience and biobehavioral reviews 1997-09, Vol.21 (5), p.679-698
• Main Author: UPHOUSE, L
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Animals; Biological and medical sciences; Central nervous system; Central neurotransmission. Neuromudulation. Pathways and receptors; Female; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Humans; Ion Channel Gating - drug effects; Ion Channel Gating - physiology; Male; Receptors, Serotonin - classification; Receptors, Serotonin - drug effects; Vertebrates: nervous system and sense organs
• ISSN: 0149-7634; 1873-7528
• DOI: 10.1016/S0149-7634(96)00022-X

In this manuscript, current knowledge about central nervous system serotonin (5-HT) receptors is discussed with an emphasis toward describing the functional significance of the multiple 5-HT receptors. Five characteristics of 5-HT receptors, which are hypothesized to contribute to this functional significance, are discussed: (a) 5-HT has varying affinity and potency for the different receptor subtypes; (b) multiple transduction pathways are used by the different receptor subtypes; (c) receptor subtypes differ in their susceptibility to agonist-mediated desensitization/downregulation; (d) receptor subtypes interact in mediating cellular responses to the neurotransmitter; and (e) receptor subtypes respond differently to changes in the physiological environment. It is hypothesized that these characteristics of the multiple neurotransmitter receptors provide the nervous system with a capacity for coding and decoding of 5-HT-mediated neuronal transmission that could not take place with a single neurotransmitter receptor. Serotonergic regulation of female reproduction and regulation of glucocorticoid release are used to illustrate the integrative potential deriving from the existence of multiple 5-HT receptors.