The Serotonin System in Mammalian Oogenesis

Transmitters, particularly serotonin, not only have the classical function of transmitting nerve impulses, but also take part in a whole series of regulatory processes throughout ontogeny, including those occurring long before formation of the nervous system. The structure and function of the serotonin system in mammalian oogenesis are considered, along with the sources and mechanisms of accumulation of the transmitter in oocytes and the expression of the components of the serotonin system – receptors, synthesis and degradation enzymes, and membrane and vesicular transporters in cells in the female mammalian reproductive system. Data on the influences of serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SERT) on oogenesis and embryogenesis are presented.