Serotonergic () or serotoninergic () means "pertaining to or affecting
serotonin". Serotonin is a
neurotransmitter. A
synapse is serotonergic if it uses serotonin as its neurotransmitter. A serotonergic neuron ''produces'' serotonin. A substance is serotonergic if it produces its effects via interactions with the serotonin system, such as by stimulating or blocking
neurotransmission
Neurotransmission (Latin: ''transmissio'' "passage, crossing" from ''transmittere'' "send, let through") is the process by which signaling molecules called neurotransmitters are released by the axon terminal of a neuron (the presynaptic neuron), ...
.
A serotonergic or serotoninergic agent is any chemical that modifies the effects of serotonin in the body.
Some different types of serotonergics drugs include the following:
*
Serotonin receptor agonist
A serotonin receptor agonist is an agonist of one or more serotonin receptors. They activate serotonin receptors in a manner similar to that of serotonin (5-hydroxytryptamine; 5-HT), a neurotransmitter and hormone and the endogenous ligand of the ...
s and
antagonists
*
Serotonin reuptake inhibitor
A serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SRI) is a type of drug which acts as a reuptake inhibitor of the neurotransmitter serotonin (5-hydroxytryptamine, or 5-HT) by blocking the action of the serotonin transporter (SERT). This in turn leads to incre ...
s
*
Serotonin releasing agent
A serotonin releasing agent (SRA) is a type of drug that induces the release of serotonin into the neuronal synaptic cleft. A selective serotonin releasing agent (SSRA) is an SRA with less significant or no efficacy in producing neurotransmitter e ...
s
See also
References
Parasympathetic nervous system
Neurochemistry
Neurotransmitters
Serotonin
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