SEROTONIN RECEPTORS AS CARDIOVASCULAR TARGETS

Serotonin exerts complex effects in the cardiovascular system, includi ng hypotension or hypertension, vasodilatation or vasoconstriction, an d/or bradycardia or tachycardia; the eventual response depends primari ly on the nature of the 5-HT receptors involved. In the light of curre nt 5-HT receptor classification, the authors reanalyse the cardiovascu lar responses mediated by 5-HT receptors and discuss the established a nd potential therapeutic applications of 5-HT ligands in the treatment of some cardiovascular pathologies.