Effect of serotonin on respiration, cerebral circulation, and blood pressure in rats

Abstract  The effects of intravenous serotonin on respiration, cerebral circulation, and blood pressure were examined in narcotized rats. Serotonin rapidly decreased local cerebral blood flow (by almost 30%) and blood pressure. Hemodynamic phenomena were accompanied by sharp changes in the respiration pattern: short-term apnea in all cases. The mechanism of this apnea was related to initial stages in blood pressure changes and had a neurogenic nature.