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Pharmacological targeting of the serotonergic system for the treatment of obesity
Author(s) -
Garfield Alastair S.,
Heisler Lora K.
Publication year - 2009
Publication title -
the journal of physiology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.802
H-Index - 240
eISSN - 1469-7793
pISSN - 0022-3751
DOI - 10.1113/jphysiol.2008.164152
Subject(s) - serotonergic , serotonin , 5 ht receptor , anorectic , pharmacology , receptor , 5 ht2a receptor , 5 ht6 receptor , medicine , endocrinology , neuroscience , psychology , food intake
The attenuation of food intake as induced by an increase in serotonergic (5‐hydroxytryptamine, 5‐HT) efficacy has been a target of antiobesity pharmacotherapies. However, the induction of tolerance and/or side‐effects limited the clinical utility of the earliest serotonin‐related medications. With the global prevalence of obesity rising, there has been renewed interest in the manipulation of the serotonergic system as a point of pharmacological intervention. The serotonin 2C receptor (5‐HT 2C R), serotonin 1B (rodent)/serotonin 1Dβ (human) receptor (5‐HT 1B/1Dβ R) and serotonin 6 receptor (5‐HT 6 R) represent the most promising serotonin receptor therapeutic targets. Canonical serotonin receptor compounds have given way to a myriad of novel receptor‐selective ligands, many of which have observable anorectic effects. Here we review serotonergic compounds reducing ingestive behaviour and discuss their clinical potential for the treatment of obesity.