Serotonergic regulation of energy metabolism in peripheral tissues

Serotonin is a biogenic amine synthesized from the essential amino acid tryptophan. Because serotonin cannot cross the blood-brain barrier, it functions differently in neuronal and non-neuronal tissues. In the CNS, serotonin regulates mood, behavior, appetite, and energy expenditure. Although most serotonin in the body is synthesized at the periphery, its biological roles have not been well elucidated. Older studies using chemical agonists and...