5-Methoxytryptamine (5-MT), also known as mexamine, is a

tryptamine Tryptamine is an indolamine metabolite of the essential amino acid, tryptophan. The chemical structure is defined by an indole ─ a fused benzene and pyrrole ring, and a 2-aminoethyl group at the second carbon (third aromatic atom, with the f ...

derivative In mathematics, the derivative of a function of a real variable measures the sensitivity to change of the function value (output value) with respect to a change in its argument (input value). Derivatives are a fundamental tool of calculus. F ...

closely related to the

neurotransmitter A neurotransmitter is a signaling molecule secreted by a neuron to affect another cell across a synapse. The cell receiving the signal, any main body part or target cell, may be another neuron, but could also be a gland or muscle cell. Neuro ...

serotonin Serotonin () or 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) is a monoamine neurotransmitter. Its biological function is complex and multifaceted, modulating mood, cognition, reward, learning, memory, and numerous physiological processes such as vomiting and vas ...

and

melatonin Melatonin is a natural product found in plants and animals. It is primarily known in animals as a hormone released by the pineal gland in the brain at night, and has long been associated with control of the sleep–wake cycle. In vertebrates ...

. 5-MT has been shown to occur naturally in the body in low levels. It is biosynthesized via the deacetylation of

in the

pineal gland The pineal gland, conarium, or epiphysis cerebri, is a small endocrine gland in the brain of most vertebrates. The pineal gland produces melatonin, a serotonin-derived hormone which modulates sleep, sleep patterns in both circadian rhythm, circ ...

. 5-MT acts as a

full agonist An agonist is a chemical that activates a receptor to produce a biological response. Receptors are cellular proteins whose activation causes the cell to modify what it is currently doing. In contrast, an antagonist blocks the action of the ago ...

at the 5-HT₁, 5-HT₂, 5-HT₄, 5-HT₆, and 5-HT₇ receptors. It has no affinity for the 5-HT₃ receptor and its affinity for the 5-HT_1E receptor is very weak in comparison to the other 5-HT₁ receptors. Its affinity for the 5-HT_5A receptor is unknown. Measured affinity for some receptors (not a complete list): * 5-HT_1B receptors (K_i = 35 nM) S. Nigra / Domenech T, et al., 1997 * 5-HT_1D receptors (K_i = 7.3 nM)Cortex / PEROUTKA ET AL., 1989 * 5-HT_1E receptors (K_i = 3151 nM)Cloned / ZGOMBICK JM, ET AL., 1992 * 5-HT_1F receptors (K_i = 1166 nM)Cloned / Adham N, et al., 1992 * 5-HT_2A receptors (K_i = 295 nM)Cortex / HOYER ET AL., 1987 * 5-HT_2B receptors (K_i = 16.4 nM)Cortex / WAINSCOTT DB, ET AL., 1996 * 5-HT_2C receptors (K_i = 52.48 nM) Cloned / BONHAUS DW, ET AL., 1997 * 5-HT₄ receptors (K_i = 501.18 nM)Caudate / ANSANAY H, ET AL.,1996 * 5-HT₆ receptors (K_i = 69.18 nM)Cloned / Hirst WD, et.al.,2003 * 5-HT₇ receptors (K_i = 5.01 nM)Cloned / BOESS FG, ET AL., 1994

References

5-HT6 agonists Serotonin receptor agonists Mexamines {{nervous-system-drug-stub

See also

References