By way of comparison, there are an estimated 22000 - 51000 noradrenergic neurons in the human brain - all in the locus coeruleus. How many serotonergic neurons are there in the human brain? How many subvarients? And where can they be found? And in comparison, how many serotonergic neurons are present elsewhere in the body (eg., in the human gut)?
Hello Michael,
Although I do not know the number, serotonergic neurons are organize in a series of nuclei (the raphe nuclei), in the midline along the entire length of the brainstem, projecting to widespread areas of the prefrontal cortex, thalamus, basal ganglia, blood vessels, etc. The most caudally located nuclei in the pons sends projections into the spinal cord to control sympathetic nervous system. In human, around 90 % of total body serotonin is found within the gastrointestinal system, 8% in the platelets, and the rest within the pineal gland.
Kind regards, Tatyana
pure serotoninergic or mixed also? The most common answer of D. Adams was "42" as I recall
Can't answer this question at all, but am very glad it is asked, since these are the kind of things one wonders about as a lay-person and it's kind of reassuring that specialists don't know or have a very hard time answering. This way one gains some much needed perspective on the limits of neurobiology.
Dear Prof. Schwartz:
I attended, your lectures at the INPP Conference in Frutillar (I presented a poster on Contemporary Psychopathology Seminar for Residents)
Regarding your question, I found this in an article by Horning JP. Journal of Chemical Neuroanatomy 26 (2003) 331–343
The development of histological and imaging techniques has demonstrated the great homologies between the organizations of the serotonergic system in many mammalian species including human. With a total number of about half a million in the human raphe nuclei, serotonin neurons have a dense and divergent projection extending to all divisions of the brain, but still with a specific areal and cellular targeting in different circuits of the sensory, motor or limbic systems.
Might you need further help, please do not hesitate to write ([email protected])
Best regards,
Luis Varela
A total of 235,000 ± 15,000 neurons (average of 1,200 ± 200 neurons per section) were found within a volume of 71.3 ± 4.5 mm3 of DR with a mean neuronal density of 3,300 ± 200 neurons/mm3. (Baker, K. G., Halliday, G. M., & Törk, I. (1990). Cytoarchitecture of the human dorsal raphe nucleus. Journal of Comparative Neurology, 301(2), 147–161. doi:10.1002/cne.903010202)
Hello Michael,
This question is frequently asked by my undergraduate and graduate students - they would would like to know the percentage of neurons in the brain that release each of the major neurotransmitters. The bottom line is that science has produced general estimates and figures for particular areas but precise data are not available.
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