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Serotonin Research Paper

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Serotonin is a neurotransmitter in the brain that has an immense effect over many functions of the brain. “Cells that make serotonin use tryptophan hydroxylase, a chemical reactor which, when combined with tryptophan, forms 5-hydroxytryptamine”. Serotonin can be discovered three key parts of the body. However, the main location of serotonin lies within the intestinal walls. It is also located within large blood vessels throughout the body and the central nervous system. The most commonly studied area of the body when it comes to serotonin, is how this neurotransmitter effects the central nervous system. The functions of serotonin are abundant and can include the regulation of many important attributes of the human body such as appetite, sleep, mood, behavior, endocrine regulation, and depression. …show more content…

Depression is a product of diminished levels of serotonin in the brain, in which there are selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) available for patients to can take. The purpose of anti-depressants is to assist with the transportation of serotonin to the brain. The function of SSRIs at the synaptic cleft is to increase serotonin levels. Anti-depressants or SSRIs work to increase serotonin levels at the synapse by blocking serotonin reuptake. Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors have become the drug of choice for patients with depression. SSRIs produce less side effects then other anti-depressants due to their controlled action to reuptake serotonin. Prozac (a very commonly used SSRI), for example, has developed so widely that it is not only used to treat depression. Even though SSRIs are successful way of handling depression, they do still harvest harmful side

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