Serotonin can stimulate vasorelaxation in ovine lateral saphenous veins precontracted with ergovaline.

The ergot alkaloid ergovaline is a potent vasoconstrictor. Previous research has shown that ergovaline can bind serotonin (5-HT) receptors and elicit vasoconstrictive activity. Three experiments were conducted to evaluate 5-HT as a vasorelaxant in the ovine saphenous artery and vein. Blood vessels were collected from mixed-breed market ram lambs (n†=†23) at slaughter. Experiment 1: artery and vein cross-sections were precontracted with 1†×â€