PRIMARY STUDY

Systemic administration of serotonin exacerbates abdominal pain and colitis via interaction with the endocannabinoid system

Key Findings:  Resulting data revealed that chronic exposure to 5-HT increased visceromotor response to colorectal distention and worsened colitis (which was associated with decrease of AEA via 5-HT3 and 5-HT4 receptors). As such, the authors posit that reducing 5-HT signaling or supplementation with endocannabinoids in the gut may induce therapeutic effects in severe cases of abdominal pain with IBD.