Abstract
Autism is a severe childhood disorder already presenting in the first 3 years of life and, therefore, strongly correlated with neurodevelopmental alterations in prenatal, as well as postnatal period. Neurotransmitters hold a pivotal role in development by providing the stimulation needed for synapses and neuronal networks to be formed during the critical period of neuroplasticity. Aberrations of the serotonergic system modify key processes in the developing brain and are strongly implicated in the pathophysiology of developmental disorders. Evidence for the role of serotonin in autism emerges from neuropathological, imaging and genetic studies. Due to its developmental arrest, autism requires early intervention that would, among others, target the disrupted serotonergic system and utilize brain plasticity to elicit clinically important brain changes in children.
Keywords: Autism, serotonin, serotonergic, developmental intervention, plasticity, 5-hydroxytryptophan
Current Neuropharmacology
Title: The Serotonergic System: Its Role in Pathogenesis and Early Developmental Treatment of Autism
Volume: 7 Issue: 2
Author(s): D. I. Zafeiriou, A. Ververi and E. Vargiami
Affiliation:
Keywords: Autism, serotonin, serotonergic, developmental intervention, plasticity, 5-hydroxytryptophan
Abstract: Autism is a severe childhood disorder already presenting in the first 3 years of life and, therefore, strongly correlated with neurodevelopmental alterations in prenatal, as well as postnatal period. Neurotransmitters hold a pivotal role in development by providing the stimulation needed for synapses and neuronal networks to be formed during the critical period of neuroplasticity. Aberrations of the serotonergic system modify key processes in the developing brain and are strongly implicated in the pathophysiology of developmental disorders. Evidence for the role of serotonin in autism emerges from neuropathological, imaging and genetic studies. Due to its developmental arrest, autism requires early intervention that would, among others, target the disrupted serotonergic system and utilize brain plasticity to elicit clinically important brain changes in children.
Export Options
About this article
Cite this article as:
Zafeiriou I. D., Ververi A. and Vargiami E., The Serotonergic System: Its Role in Pathogenesis and Early Developmental Treatment of Autism, Current Neuropharmacology 2009; 7 (2) . https://dx.doi.org/10.2174/157015909788848848
DOI https://dx.doi.org/10.2174/157015909788848848 |
Print ISSN 1570-159X |
Publisher Name Bentham Science Publisher |
Online ISSN 1875-6190 |
- Author Guidelines
- Graphical Abstracts
- Fabricating and Stating False Information
- Research Misconduct
- Post Publication Discussions and Corrections
- Publishing Ethics and Rectitude
- Increase Visibility of Your Article
- Archiving Policies
- Peer Review Workflow
- Order Your Article Before Print
- Promote Your Article
- Manuscript Transfer Facility
- Editorial Policies
- Allegations from Whistleblowers
- Announcements
Related Articles
-
Agonist-Trafficking and Hallucinogens
Current Medicinal Chemistry Spontaneous Coronary Artery Dissection: Does Being Unemployed Matter? Insights from the GSCAD Registry
Current Cardiology Reviews Repertoire of Gluten Peptides Active in Celiac Disease Patients: Perspectives For Translational Therapeutic Applications
Endocrine, Metabolic & Immune Disorders - Drug Targets Losartan Chemistry and Its Effects via AT1 Mechanisms in the Kidney
Current Medicinal Chemistry Drug Delivery Systems and Strategies to Overcome the Barriers of Brain
Current Pharmaceutical Design Therapeutic Targeting of TRP Channels - The TR(i)P to Pain Relief
Current Topics in Medicinal Chemistry Issues Impacting Therapeutic Outcomes in Pediatric Patients: An Overview
Current Pediatric Reviews Patent Selections
Recent Patents on CNS Drug Discovery (Discontinued) Beyond Hemostasis: The Role of Platelets in Inflammation, Malignancy and Infection
Cardiovascular & Hematological Disorders-Drug Targets E-Cadherin Upregulation as a Therapeutic Goal in Cancer Treatment
Mini-Reviews in Medicinal Chemistry Model Systems for Pulmonary Infectious Diseases: Paradigms of Anthrax and Tuberculosis
Current Topics in Medicinal Chemistry Modulation of Rack-1/PKCβII Signalling By Soluble AβPPα in SH-SY5Y Cells
Current Alzheimer Research Sealing the Broken Barrier in IBD: Intestinal Permeability, Epithelial Cells and Junctions
Current Drug Targets Uric Acid and the Kidney: Urate Transport, Stone Disease and Progressive Renal Failure
Current Pharmaceutical Design Genetics of Cancer Susceptibility
Current Genomics Association Between Total Bilirubin Levels and Cardio-Metabolic Risk Factors Related to Obesity
Endocrine, Metabolic & Immune Disorders - Drug Targets Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells as a Model for Therapy Personalization of Pediatric Patients: Disease Modeling and Drug Adverse Effects Prevention
Current Medicinal Chemistry The Genetics of Small-Vessel Disease
Current Medicinal Chemistry The First Case Report of Kabuki Syndrome from the National Iranian Registry of Primary Immunodeficiencies
Endocrine, Metabolic & Immune Disorders - Drug Targets Hypertension and Cardiac Arrhythmias
Current Pharmaceutical Design