The effects of serotonin on migration of cultured rat aortic smooth muscle cells (SMC) were studied to clarify the role of this substance in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis. Serotonin alone did not stimulate SMC migration but stimulated it at physiological concentrations in the presence of other migration factors such as SMC-derived migration factor, platelet-derived migration factor and fibronectin. Checker-board analysis revealed that the serotonin effect was chemotactic. Moreover, serotonin effects were completely abolished by a selective inhibitor of the 5-HT2 receptor (MCI-9042), indicating that serotonin effects were mediated through the 5-HT2 receptor pathway. Finally, serotonin effects were also abolished by a phospholipase C inhibitor, U73122, suggesting that the 5-HT2 receptor mediated signal of serotonin was transduced by PLC. The results suggest that platelet-derived serotonin plays some role in the SMC dominant neointima formation.