van Praag H M, Lemus C, Kahn R
Biol Psychiatry. 1987 Jan;22(1):86-98. doi: 10.1016/0006-3223(87)90134-x.
The response of a hormone allegedly under 5-hydroxytryptaminergic (5-HT-ergic) control to a compound stimulating or inhibiting serotonergic activity has been used as a measure of the functional state of central serotonergic systems. The relevant literature is reviewed, and based on that, it is concluded that, as yet, no reliable hormonal 5-HT probe exists. The main problems are nonselectivity of the challengers and noncomparability of individual studies because of variations in dose and route of administration. An acceptable hormonal 5-HT probe should at least have passed the following three tests. The influence of the challenger on catecholaminergic (CA) systems must be rendered unlikely in humans to avoid the pitfalls of, say, the 5-HT precursors whose CA-ergic influences have been overlooked. Dose-response relationships must be established to avoid the confusion caused by different investigators using the challenger in different doses. It must be demonstrated that the effect of the challenger is counteracted by its functional opponent.
一种据称受5-羟色胺能（5-HT能）控制的激素对刺激或抑制血清素能活性的化合物的反应，已被用作衡量中枢血清素能系统功能状态的指标。本文对相关文献进行了综述，并据此得出结论：目前尚无可靠的激素5-HT探针。主要问题在于挑战剂的非选择性以及由于给药剂量和途径的差异导致的个体研究缺乏可比性。一种可接受的激素5-HT探针至少应通过以下三项测试。在人体中，必须尽量减少挑战剂对儿茶酚胺能（CA）系统的影响，以避免诸如5-HT前体等情况的陷阱，其对CA能的影响曾被忽视。必须建立剂量-反应关系，以避免不同研究者使用不同剂量的挑战剂所造成的混淆。必须证明挑战剂的作用能被其功能拮抗剂所抵消。
