This site is intended for healthcare professionals

Go to /sign-in page

You can view 5 more pages before signing in

Go to /pro/cpd-dashboard page

This page is worth 0.05 CPD credits. CPD dashboard

Go to /account/subscription-details page

This page is worth 0.05 CPD credits. Upgrade to Pro

Production

Last reviewed dd mmm yyyy. Last edited dd mmm yyyy

Authoring team

Serotonin is produced from dietary tryptophan by the action of tryptophan hydroxylase and dopa decarboxylase in chromaffin cells and neurons. Platelets acquire serotonin on passage through the gut where the local concentration is high.

The degradation pathway of serotonin is important from the view of carcinoid syndrome. Monoamine oxidase and aldehyde dehydrogenase convert serotonin to 5-hydroxy-indoleacetic acid - 5HIAA. 5HIAA is excreted in the urine and thus provides a ready means of assessing serotonin turnover.

Serotonin is found in:

  • the stomach and small intestine: in chromaffin, neural crest-derived cells
  • platelets
  • the central nervous system: 5HT acts as a central transmitter from the cells of the raphe nucleus in the pons and upper medulla; these project widely to the spinal cord and the cerebral hemispheres

Related pages

Create an account to add page annotations

Annotations allow you to add information to this page that would be handy to have on hand during a consultation. E.g. a website or number. This information will always show when you visit this page.

The content herein is provided for informational purposes and does not replace the need to apply professional clinical judgement when diagnosing or treating any medical condition. A licensed medical practitioner should be consulted for diagnosis and treatment of any and all medical conditions.

Connect

Copyright 2024 Oxbridge Solutions Limited, a subsidiary of OmniaMed Communications Limited. All rights reserved. Any distribution or duplication of the information contained herein is strictly prohibited. Oxbridge Solutions receives funding from advertising but maintains editorial independence.