Serotonin and the serotonin transporter in the adrenal gland
- PMID: 38408804
- PMCID: PMC11217909
- DOI: 10.1016/bs.vh.2023.06.002
Serotonin and the serotonin transporter in the adrenal gland
Abstract
The adrenal glands are key components of the mammalian endocrine system, helping maintain physiological homeostasis and the coordinated response to stress. Each adrenal gland has two morphologically and functionally distinct regions, the outer cortex and inner medulla. The cortex is organized into three concentric zones which secrete steroid hormones, including aldosterone and cortisol. Neural crest-derived chromaffin cells in the medulla are innervated by preganglionic sympathetic neurons and secrete catecholamines (epinephrine, norepinephrine) and neuropeptides into the bloodstream, thereby functioning as the neuroendocrine arm of the sympathetic nervous system. In this article we review serotonin (5-HT) and the serotonin transporter (SERT; SLC6A4) in the adrenal gland. In the adrenal cortex, 5-HT, primarily sourced from resident mast cells, acts as a paracrine signal to stimulate aldosterone and cortisol secretion through 5-HT4/5-HT7 receptors. Medullary chromaffin cells contain a small amount of 5-HT due to SERT-mediated uptake and express 5-HT1A receptors which inhibit secretion. The atypical mechanism of the 5-HT1A receptors and interaction with SERT fine tune this autocrine pathway to control stress-evoked catecholamine secretion. Receptor-independent signaling by SERT/intracellular 5-HT modulates the amount and kinetics of transmitter release from single vesicle fusion events. SERT might also influence stress-evoked upregulation of tyrosine hydroxylase transcription. Transient signaling via 5-HT3 receptors during embryonic development can limit the number of chromaffin cells found in the mature adrenal gland. Together, this emerging evidence suggests that the adrenal medulla is a peripheral hub for serotonergic control of the sympathoadrenal stress response.
Keywords: Adrenal cortex; Adrenal medulla; Catecholamine; Chromaffin; G protein coupled receptor; Serotonin; Serotonin transporter; Serotonylation; Stress; Sympathetic nervous system.
Copyright © 2024. Published by Elsevier Inc.
Similar articles
-
Serotonin and Serotonin Transporters in the Adrenal Medulla: A Potential Hub for Modulation of the Sympathetic Stress Response.ACS Chem Neurosci. 2017 May 17;8(5):943-954. doi: 10.1021/acschemneuro.7b00026. Epub 2017 Apr 13. ACS Chem Neurosci. 2017. PMID: 28406285 Free PMC article. Review.
-
An interplay between the serotonin transporter (SERT) and 5-HT receptors controls stimulus-secretion coupling in sympathoadrenal chromaffin cells.Neuropharmacology. 2016 Nov;110(Pt A):438-448. doi: 10.1016/j.neuropharm.2016.08.015. Epub 2016 Aug 18. Neuropharmacology. 2016. PMID: 27544824 Free PMC article.
-
Adrenal serotonin derives from accumulation by the antidepressant-sensitive serotonin transporter.Pharmacol Res. 2019 Feb;140:56-66. doi: 10.1016/j.phrs.2018.06.008. Epub 2018 Jun 9. Pharmacol Res. 2019. PMID: 29894763 Free PMC article.
-
The serotonin transporter is required for stress-evoked increases in adrenal catecholamine synthesis and angiotensin II AT(2) receptor expression.Neuroendocrinology. 2003 Oct;78(4):217-25. doi: 10.1159/000073705. Neuroendocrinology. 2003. PMID: 14583654
-
Studies on the neuroendocrine role of serotonin.Dan Med Bull. 2007 Nov;54(4):266-88. Dan Med Bull. 2007. PMID: 18208678 Review.
References
-
- Albillos A, Carbone E, Gandia L, Garcia AG, & Pollo A (1996). Opioid inhibition of Ca2+ channel subtypes in bovine chromaffin cells: selectivity of action and voltage-dependence. Eur J Neurosci, 8(8), 1561–1570. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&dop... - PubMed
-
- Albillos A, Dernick G, Horstmann H, Almers W, Alvarez de Toledo G, & Lindau M (1997). The exocytotic event in chromaffin cells revealed by patch amperometry. Nature, 389(6650), 509–512. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&dop... http://www.nature.com/nature/journal/v389/n6650/pdf/389509a0.pdf - PubMed
-
- Appel NM, Wessendorf MW, & Elde RP (1986). Coexistence of serotonin- and substance P-like immunoreactivity in nerve fibers apposing identified sympathoadrenal preganglionic neurons in rat intermediolateral cell column. Neurosci Lett, 65(3), 241–246. - PubMed
-
- Armando I, Tjurmina OA, Li Q, Murphy DL, & Saavedra JM (2003). The serotonin transporter is required for stress-evoked increases in adrenal catecholamine synthesis and angiotensin II AT(2) receptor expression. Neuroendocrinology, 78(4), 217–225. - PubMed
Publication types
MeSH terms
Substances
Grants and funding
LinkOut - more resources
Full Text Sources