Role of serotonin in the aggressive behavior [Papel de la serotonina en la conducta agresiva]

The purpose of this work was to collect and integrate the information available from different studies on the involvement of the serotonin (5-HT) in the modulation of aggressive behavior. The serotonin has been implicated in the modulation of aggression in animals and humans. The serotoninergic system in the central nervous system (CNS) has complex interactions with many neurotransmitter systems in the brain. Its localization, distribution and amazing receptor diversity makes it an appealing system for modulatory aspects in many basic behaviors, including food and water intake, sexual behavior and aggression. Not with standing decades of research into the putative role of the 5-HT in aggression, no clear picture about its specific role. Application of agonists/antagonist selective for certain subtype receptors seems a more promising approach to unraveling the role of 5-HT in aggression. Of the 14 different 5-HT receptors, the postsynaptic 5-HT1B (hetero) receptor particularly plays an important selective role in the modulation of aggression (offensive). The (postsynaptic) 5-HT1B and to a lesser extent, the 5-HT1A receptor seems to play a prominent role, at least in rodents, in the modulation of (offensive) aggression