Vilazodone HCl (VLN) is chemically 5-(4-[4-(5-cyano-1Hindol-3-yl) butyl] piperazin-1-yl) benzofuran-2-carboxamide hydrochloride [1] (Figure 1). It contains an indole piperazine that utilizes its function as an SSRI and 5-HT1a receptor partial agonist [2]. It belongs to the category of serotonergic antidepressant approved by FDA (Food and Drug Administration) for treatment of depressive disorder...

Serotonin is a neurotransmitter with broad functions in brain development, neuronal activity, and behaviors; and serotonin is the prominent drug target in several major neuropsychiatric diseases. The multiple actions of serotonin are mediated by diverse serotonin receptor subtypes and associated signaling pathways. However, the key signaling components that mediate specific function of serotoni...

BACKGROUND Tramadol-induced seizures might be pathologically associated with serotonin syndrome. Here, the authors investigated the relationship between serotonin and the seizure-inducing potential of tramadol. METHODS Two groups of rats received pretreatment to modulate brain levels of serotonin and one group was treated as a sham control (n = 6 per group). Serotonin modulation groups receiv...

Transglutaminase (TGase)-induced activation of small G proteins via 5-hydroxytryptamine (HT)(2A) receptor signaling leads to platelet aggregation (Cell 115:851-862, 2003). We hypothesize that stimulation of 5-HT(2A) receptors in neurons activates TGase, resulting in transamidation of serotonin to a small G protein, Rac1, thereby constitutively activating Rac1. Using immunoprecipitation and immu...

Starfish oocytes were injected with mRNA for the serotonin 1c receptor or with rat brain poly A+ mRNA, incubated to allow expression of the membrane protein, then matured to eggs by addition of 1-methyladenine. Applying serotonin to these eggs caused cortical granule exocytosis like that occurring at fertilization. Because the serotonin 1c receptor specifically activates a G-protein, these resu...

BACKGROUND The present study investigates neurobiological underpinnings of individual differences in time perception. METHODOLOGY Forty-four right-handed Russian Caucasian males (18-35 years old) participated in the experiment. The polymorphism of the genes related to the activity of serotonin (5-HT) and dopamine (DA)-systems (such as 5-HTT, 5HT2a, MAOA, DAT, DRD2, COMT) was determined upon t...

CANNABIS PRODUCES WELL-RECOGNIZED BEHAVIORAL EFFECTS AND TWO TYPES OF G PROTEIN-COUPLED RECEPTORS (CB1 AND CB2) HAVE BEEN CHARACTERIZED WHICH BIND THE ACTIVE COMPONENTS OF CANNABIS.1 Still, the functional roles of endogenous ligands for CB1 and CB2 receptors remain poorly defined.2 Early observations suggest a potent neuromodulatory role for these endocannabinoids, including alterations in slee...

A-to-I RNA editing has mainly been found in various receptors and ion channels in the central nervous system, including the serotonin 2C receptor, glutamate receptor, GABA receptor, and potassium channel. Interestingly, most of them are suggested to be involved in the pathophysiology of major mental disorders such as schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, and major depression. Here we review studies ...

Glycogen synthase kinase-3 (GSK3) is a constitutively active protein kinase in brain. Increasing evidence has shown that GSK3 acts as a modulator in the serotonin neurotransmission system, including direct interaction with serotonin 1B (5-HT1B) receptors in a highly selective manner and prominent modulating effect on 5-HT1B receptor activity. In this study, we utilized the serotonin neuron-sele...