Abstract
Summary
1) Serotonin creatinine sulphate was injected subcutaneously twice daily into rats in 8 mg doses for periods to 342 consecutive days. After approximately 30 days of injections there was observed a progressive collagenous and fibrous proliferation within the dermis, an increased vascularity, hyperplasia of the epidermis, vascular changes in arterioles of the dermis, and diminution in skin appendages, all at sites of serotonin injections. Control injections of physiologic saline and carbon tetrachloride did not result in similar changes. 2) The present findings appear to lend some support to the hypothesis that serotonin causes the cardiac valvular fibrosis observed in patients with the carcinoid syndrome.
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