"Serotonergic neurons" refers to a specific group of cells in the brain that produce a chemical called serotonin. Serotonin is a neurotransmitter that helps regulate various processes in our bodies, including mood, sleep, appetite, and memory. So, when we talk about
serotonergic neurons, we are referring to the neurons that release serotonin and play a crucial role in controlling our emotions and behaviors.
Full definition
Pcdh - α gene expression during rodent neural development is highest in early postnatal life (until PD21), when it is involved in specifying the innervation
of serotonergic neurons in the hippocampus [39].
Now, Dymecki and colleagues have taken a first stab at systematically
characterizing serotonergic neurons at the molecular level and defining a full set of subtypes, again in mice.
The researchers report in Neuron that
serotonergic neurons come in at least six major molecular subtypes defined by distinct expression patterns of hundreds of genes.
«Before that, it's important to precisely understand the function of serotonin or
serotonergic neurons during [human] neural development.»
The mechanism of presynaptic facilitation, therefore, may include activation of one or
more serotonergic neurons, which enhance the release of a neurotransmitter by increasing the intracellular concentration of cyclic AMP in the terminals of the sensory neurons.
Because of this, researchers can look for the same molecular signatures in human tissue and begin to tease apart whether particular subtypes
of serotonergic neurons are involved in conditions such as sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) or autism.
Serotonin (5 - hydroxytryptamine, or 5 - HT) is a monoamine neurotransmitter synthesised in
serotonergic neurons in the central nervous system and enterochromaffin cells in the gastrointestinal tract.
Last year, a team led by Harvard Medical School genetics professor Susan Dymecki defined a subgroup of
serotonergic neurons in mice by showing that those cells specifically, among all serotonergic neurons, were responsible for increasing the breathing rate when too much carbon dioxide builds up in the body.
Crucially, the team also showed that
a serotonergic neuron's gene expression and function depend not only on its location in the adult brain stem, but also on its cellular ancestor in the developing brain.
«Which subtype of
serotonergic neuron are we getting when we use current stem cell protocols?»
Dr. Brownfield's work on the serotonergic system and its impact on brain function has focused on the molecular anatomy of
serotonergic neurons and their target neurons.