Searchable abstracts of presentations at key conferences in endocrinology
Endocrine Abstracts (2011) 26 OC2.3

ECE2011 Oral Communications Neuroendocrinology (6 abstracts)

Distribution of serotonin transporters in the human hypothalamus

A J Borgers , P H Bisschop , E Fliers & A Alkemade


Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Academic Medical Centre, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.


Background: Serotonergic signalling has been implicated in numerous hypothalamic functions including circadian rhythmicity, feeding and the modulation of neuroendocrine systems. In spite of the importance of these functions, the neuroanatomy of the serotonergic system in the human hypothalamus is still unknown.

Aim and methods: To increase insight in hypothalamic serotonin signalling in humans, we investigated the distribution of serotonin transporters (SERT) by means of immunohistochemistry, using a monoclonal antibody raised against human SERT. The distribution of SERT immunoreactivity was systematically examined over the entire rostro-caudal axis in each 50th 6 μm coronal section of six post-mortem human hypothalami (Netherlands Brain Bank).

In addition, we performed immunofluorescent double-labelling of SERT with respectively the neuropeptides VIP, AVP, NPY, AgRP and αMSH to identify cell types showing basket-like staining of SERT-immunoreactive fibers.

Results: SERT-immunoreactivity was ubiquitously expressed in fibers throughout the hypothalamus. A dense track of fibers was seen in the perifornical area and in close proximity to the anterior commissure. The ependymal lining of the third ventricle showed also strong SERT-immunoreactivity.

The suprachiasmatic nucleus and infundibular nucleus contained a high density of SERT-immunoreactive fibers. Clusters of SERT-immunoreactive fibers outlining capillaries and basket neurons were present in these areas, highly suggestive of synaptic endings. A minority of these basket cells were VIP-, AVP-, NPY-, AgRP- and αMSH-immunoreactive.

Conclusion: We report the distribution of SERT in post-mortem human hypothalamus. The strong immunoreactivity in the suprachiasmatic and infundibular nucleus suggests a modulatory role for serotonin in a number of hypothalamic functions including circadian rhythmicity and the regulation of feeding behaviour.

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