Serum serotonin in nervous system disease

Abstract

Subnormal serum serotonin levels were demonstrated in 14 of 45 patients with lesions in the central nervous system. Five of the 14 patients with subnormal serum serotonin had lesions localized to the hypothalamus and the remaining 9 patients had proved or probable limbic system lesions. It is proposed that the hypothalamus, and possibly other areas of the limbic system, influence systemic blood serotonin levels.