The role of serotonin in the actions of psychostimulants: molecular and pharmacological analyses

Behav Brain Res. 1996;73(1-2):93-102. doi: 10.1016/0166-4328(96)00077-0.

Abstract

Cocaine is a highly abused psychostimulant which is a local anesthetic and inhibitor of the reuptake of dopamine (DA), serotonin (5-HT) and norepinephrine (NE). This manuscript details a brief summary and the primary conclusions of several presentations geared to present recent pharmacological analyses of the interaction of cocaine with 5-HT systems. These data illustrate the complexity of actions for cocaine in the brain and emphasize that, to fully understand the mechanisms which underlie its potent behavioural effects, the impact of this drug on 5-HT function as well as the interactions between 5-HT and the function of DA mesolimbic pathways must be considered.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Central Nervous System Stimulants / pharmacology*
  • Cocaine / pharmacology
  • Dopamine Uptake Inhibitors / pharmacology
  • Humans
  • Receptors, Serotonin / drug effects*
  • Receptors, Serotonin / metabolism
  • Receptors, Serotonin / physiology
  • Serotonin / metabolism
  • Serotonin / physiology*
  • Synapses / drug effects
  • Synapses / physiology

Substances

  • Central Nervous System Stimulants
  • Dopamine Uptake Inhibitors
  • Receptors, Serotonin
  • Serotonin
  • Cocaine