Serotonin (5-hydroxytryptamine, 5-HT), considered to be a synaptic transmitter within the central nervous system, has been shown to be localized mainly in the paleocortex of the brain. Others have shown disturbances of normal 5-HT metabolism to be associated with mental illness and disease. Attempts to inject tritium labelled 5-HT into cerebrospinal fluid of the rat brain for anatomical localization studies were·made. The following observations were noted, (1) there exists a perivascular space in which fluid flows and distribution is relatively uninhibited as compared to subarachnoid space, (2) the labelled 5-HT penetration of brain tissue parenchyma is restricted and radioactivity is attenuated going away from the surface of access, and (3) the injected labelled 5-HT is absorbed into areas believed to contain true serotonergic fibers, especially throughout the paleocortex. Suggestions concerning the anatomical importance of the perivascular space observed are made. Also comparisons of 5-HT brain localization with metabolism and physiology of 5-HT are made in relation to mental illness.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:BGMYU2/oai:scholarsarchive.byu.edu:etd-8912 |
| Date | 01 August 1971 |
| Creators | Wagstaff, Brent D. |
| Publisher | BYU ScholarsArchive |
| Source Sets | Brigham Young University |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | text |
| Format | application/pdf |
| Source | Theses and Dissertations |
| Rights | http://lib.byu.edu/about/copyright/ |
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