Mediation by serotonin of gold thioglucose-induced necrosis of the ventromedial hypothalamus.

Agents that lower serotonin levels or inhibit serotonin action prevent GTG-indurea and that such damage leads to abnormally increased capillary permeability. Since the VMH is rich in serotonin and since serotonin is a potent oedema-producing agent mice, these findings indicate that the production of necrosis by GTG is mediated by release of serotonin from the damaged pericapillary processes.