Molecular biology of serotonin (5-HT) receptors.

The hypothesis that multiple serotonin (5-hydroxytryptamine; 5-HT) receptors exist was first developed in the 1950s. However, unequivocal proof of 5-HT receptor multiplicity required the availability of molecular biological technologies. Indeed, the multiplicity of 5-HT receptor subtypes, both within and between species, has far exceeded most of the predictions that might have been made on the basis of pharmacological data. Over the past few years, and especially in 1992 and 1993, numerous "new" 5-HT receptors were reported. In this review, the extensive data generated in the past few years are summarized in an evolutionary context.