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On the presence of serotonin in mammalian cardiomyocytes

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Abstract

Pleiotropic effects of serotonin (5-HT) in the cardiovascular system are well documented. However, it remains to be elucidated, whether 5-HT is present in adult mammalian cardiomyocytes. To address this issue, we investigated the levels of 5-HT in blood, plasma, platelets, cardiac tissue, and cardiomyocytes from adult mice and for comparison in human right atrial tissue. Immunohistochemically, 5-HT was hardly found in mouse cardiac tissue, but small amounts could be detected in renal preparations, whereas adrenal preparations revealed a strong positive immunoreaction for 5-HT. Using a sensitive HPLC detection system, 5-HT was also detectable in the mouse heart and human atrium. Furthermore, we could identify 5-HT in isolated cardiomyocytes from adult mice. These findings were supported by detection of the activity of 5-HT-forming enzymes—tryptophan hydroxylase and aromatic l-amino acid decarboxylase—in isolated cardiomyocytes from adult mice and by inhibition of these enzymes with p-chlorophenylalanine and 3-hydroxybenzyl hydrazine. Addition of the first intermediate of 5-HT generation, that is 5-hydroxytryptophan, enhanced the 5-HT level and inhibition of monoamine oxidase by tranylcypromine further increased the level of 5-HT. Our findings reveal the presence and synthesis of 5-HT in cardiomyocytes of the mammalian heart implying that 5-HT may play an autocrine and/or paracrine role in the heart.

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Acknowledgments

The technical assistance of A. Spiess-Dunemann and I. Adler is greatly appreciated. This study was supported by the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Medical Faculty, Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Martin-Luther-University Halle-Wittenberg, Magdeburger Str. 4, 06112, Halle (Saale), Germany

    Klaus Pönicke, Ulrich Gergs & Joachim Neumann

  2. Institut für Hämatopathologie, Fangdieckstraße 75a, 22547, Hamburg, Germany

    Igor B. Buchwalow

  3. Medical Faculty, Institute of Pathology, Martin-Luther-University Halle-Wittenberg, 06097, Halle (Saale), Germany

    Steffen Hauptmann

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  1. Klaus Pönicke
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  2. Ulrich Gergs
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  4. Steffen Hauptmann
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  5. Joachim Neumann
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Correspondence to Joachim Neumann.

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Pönicke, K., Gergs, U., Buchwalow, I.B. et al. On the presence of serotonin in mammalian cardiomyocytes. Mol Cell Biochem 365, 301–312 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11010-012-1270-6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11010-012-1270-6

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