serotonin

play

noun se·ro·to·nin \ ˌsir-ə-ˈtō-nən , ˌser- \

Definition of serotonin

:a phenolic amine neurotransmitter C₁₀H₁₂N₂O that is a powerful vasoconstrictor and is found especially in the brain, blood serum, and gastric mucous membrane of mammals

Recent Examples of serotonin from the Web

Because zebrafish and humans share the same opioid receptor in their brains, as well as neurotransmitters such as dopamine and serotonin that signal pleasure and reward, the team hopes to use them to screen for new treatments for opioid addiction.

— emily underwood, Science | AAAS, "Tropical fish fiend for opioids, too," 25 Aug. 2017
Depression previously has been linked to imbalances of the neurotransmitters serotonin, norepinephrine and dopamine.

— carrie wells, baltimoresun.com, "University of Maryland scientists research gene linked to depression," 29 July 2017
The researchers found that the newborn monkeys of obese mothers had defects in their brain, with abnormalities in the central serotonin system.

— lynne terry, OregonLive.com, "Study: High-fat diet during pregnancy can create depressed offspring," 23 July 2017
Hales has a tattoo of a serotonin molecule on her left rib and one day, a protester asked what molecule was on her tattoo.

— joe marusak, charlotteobserver, "Man raped date after she said she worked at an abortion clinic," 26 June 2017
Hales has a tattoo of a serotonin molecule on her left rib and one day, a protester asked what molecule her tattoo was of.

— rebecca grant, Cosmopolitan, "She Told a Guy She Worked at an Abortion Clinic. On Their Next Date, He Raped Her.," 26 June 2017
Research on humans suggests that, during early brain development, those who will go on to develop autism have unusually low levels of serotonin in critical areas of the brain.

— los angeles times, OregonLive.com, "Could Prozac be a treatment for children with autism?," 22 June 2017
For non-ursines, disruption of biological clocks after time changes muddle internal melatonin production, which regulates sleep, and serotonin levels drop with reduced exposure to sunshine.

— david jefferys, Condé Nast Traveler, "Why One in Fifty Swedes Travels to Thailand Every Year," 21 June 2017
Traditional selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors like Prozac can do the same thing, but that process could take months.

— rene chun, Los Angeles Magazine, "Inside the Los Angeles Clinic That Uses Ketamine to Treat Depression," 19 June 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'serotonin.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of serotonin

sero- + tonic + ¹-in

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 1948

See Words from the same year

Medical Dictionary

serotonin

play

noun se·ro·to·nin \ ˌsir-ə-ˈtō-nən , ˌser- \

medical Definition of serotonin

:a phenolic amine neurotransmitter C₁₀H₁₂N₂O that is a powerful vasoconstrictor and is found especially in the brain, blood serum, and gastric mucous membrane of mammals — called also 5-HT, 5-hydroxytryptamine