Serotonin: beyond menopause

Abstract

Serotonin is a brain neurotransmitter, a local gut-produced pro-kinetic agent and a platelets-released monoamine with haemostasis role. We focus on revealing the serotonin interferences with menopause mainly related to climacteric syndrome and bone health. This is a short commentary type of manuscript, centred on English language PubMed research. Serotonin is connected to the hypothalamic thresholds for temperature regulation in vasomotor symptoms that is why drugs that elevate the serotonin synaptic plaque exposure like SSRI (serotonin selective reuptake inhibitors) are indicated. Serotonin is also linked to bone field but its testing into the blood has not been unanimously found to be correlated with bone mineral density or menopausal bone remodelling markers. Conditions with age-related onset as carcinoid tumours bring a serotonin excess but not necessary a bone loss. From climacteric syndrome to bone regulation and to pathological domain of neuroendocrine neoplasia, serotonin plays a complex role on menopause’s field.

Keywords

• serotonin
• bone
• climacteric syndrome