Serotonin and superior mesenteric artery resistance index

Objective. Serotonin is a vasoactive neuroendocrine substance and serotonergic drugs are promising agents for the treatment of functional gastrointestinal disorders. The effect of serotonin on superior mesenteric blood flow in humans is unknown. The aim of this study was to examine the effect of exogenous serotonin on superior mesenteric artery blood flow, as estimated by the resistance index with Doppler ultrasound, in healthy human volunteers. Material and methods. Six fasting healthy adult volunteers of both genders were studied. Transabdominal Doppler ultrasound was used to evaluate the effects of either a standard meal or intravenous infusion of serotonin (2.5–20 nmol kg−1 min−1) on the superior mesenteric artery resistance index, platelet‐depleted plasma levels of serotonin, blood pressure, heart rate and electrocardiogram. Results. All subjects had the same patterns of response to meal and serotonin stimulation. Meal stimulation decreased the mean resistance index from 0.84±0.04 to 0.72±0.02 (p = 0...