Brain Serotonin, Carbohydrate-Craving, Obesity and Depression

摘要: Serotonin in the brain, and perhaps elsewhere, is involved mechanisms that affect macronutrient selection, generate feelings of satiety, and, if malfunctioning, predispose to obesity. Drugs which increase quantities serotonin present within synapses can cause weight reduction. Such drugs presently include those release neurotransmitter by a direct action on nerve terminals (e.g., dexfenfluramine’s metabolite dexnorfenfluramine) or activating serotoninergic neurons nicotine); post-synaptic receptors dexnorfenfluramine); prolonging serotonin’s existence blocking its reuptake dexfenfluramine; fluoxetine, sertraline; paroxetine). Additional ways are known intrasynaptic levels be augmented (e.g. increasing synthesis with tryptophan; inhibiting destruction monoamine oxidase), it anticipated acting at these loci will also become candidates for treating