ABSTRACT
5-hydroxy tryptamine (5-HT) has been implicated in the control of a wide array of both physiological and behavioral functions. 5-HT is involved in such diverse processes as pain perception, aggression, sleep, sexual behavior, hormone secretion, thermoregulation, cardiovascular function, motor activity, renal regulation, and food intake (for review, see Haber, Gabay, Issidorides, & Alivisatos, 1981; Jacobs & Gelperin, 1981; Osborne, 1982). 5-HT plays a key role in the pharmacological actions of antidepressant medications, antianxiety drugs, and hallucinogens. Given the widespread distribution of neurons containing this indoleamine in the central nervous system (CNS) (for review, see Azinitia, 1987), it is not surprising that 5-HT plays an important role in so many types of physiological functions.
