Some Thoughts On Serotonin

[TeslaFan]

I was reading on some serotonin related research, showing decreased serotonin metabolites in CSF of those depressed patients that attempted suicide (*), as well as often increased density of serotonin receptors in those cases, particularly of 2A (**) and 2C types (***).

Pairing these studies with Ray's writings on serotonin, lead me to suspect the following (which others may have already suggested):

Remember how calcium has a good role when it's in the bones and teeth and how it has a negative role when it gets "spilled" into surrounding tissue -- calcifying the tissue and arteries, and when it enters the cell?

I suspect that serotonin may have somewhat neuro-protective role when it is inside the brain / CNS, and a pro-inflammatory, anti-metabolic role when it gets "spilled" in the blood, as when released from the platelets.

This would go along the studies showing that people who committed suicide have low levels of serotonin in the CFS, and also increased density of serotonin receptors in the brain. Brain will build more protein receptors when activating ligand (in this case, serotonin) is low -- in an attempt to compensate for the lack of signaling.
Consequently, it would make sense that when serotonin is saturated in the brain, the protein receptors would be lowered in numbers / desensitized due to overactive signaling.

So, I suspect that serotonin is context specific in a sense that whether its role is positive or negative depends on the site of action.

Something on the lines of "energy and structure are interdependent, at every level."

Any thoughts?

* http://archpsyc.jamanetwork.com/article ... eid=491608
** http://www.nature.com/npp/journal/v24/n ... 5631a.html
*** http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/ar ... 2896000927

 

[Such_Saturation]

Where the serotonin was repressing certain thought processes, memories and actions, it seems consequential that its disappearance by exhaustion or by other events would bring about more definitive coping behaviours. There is a reason why serotonin reuptake inhibitors make you feel the way they do.

 

[miko]

Low serotonin is linked with impulsivity, so it's normal that people who commited suicide had low levels of it. But impulsivity and depression are two different things. About 5-HT2a and 5-HT2c receptors - I know that upregulation of them can be a result of many other things (besides low levels of neurotransmitter) - stress (cortisol), cytokines etc.

 

[miko]

when serotonin is saturated in the brain, the protein receptors would be lowered in numbers / desensitized due to overactive signaling.

It's not always true - with SSRI drugs (a lot of serotonin) we have upregulation of some receptors in some parts of brain (e.g 5-HT2c in chroid plexus).

https://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/ch ... collapsing

 

[Anonymous]

A lot of this is above my head, but I definitely think there is a connection to serotonin, auto-immunity and chronic fatigue.

http://chronicfatigue.about.com/b/2013/ ... ndrome.htm

My body does not seem to like Cyproheptadine and I sometimes feel like I'm at war with my body.