Serotonin - The language of bacteria

At the origin of life about 4 billion years ago, bacteria found a way to "use" the poisonous oxygen in order to survive. Antioxidants are substances that bind oxygen. Serotonin is such an antioxidant, i.e., "oxygen detoxifier". In this way, bacteria have managed to create a stable atmosphere with an oxygen content of about 21%. The processes necessary to cope with light energy and oxygen became vital processes.

From light to life - the bracelet of hope

The sun provides energy for all life on earth. This energy, symbolized by the white pearls, is generated by the nuclear fusion of hydrogen. In Egyptian mythology, life was given by the sun god Ra. The formula for the energy of light is E = hν, Plank's quantum of action times frequency.

At the origin of life about 4 billion years ago, there was little light on earth, but the first living things, most likely bacteria, formed substances that changed the atmosphere so that more light penetrated the atmosphere and reached the earth. To cope with this extra light energy, bacteria invented tryptophan, an aromatic amino acid that can absorb energy. The uptake and storage of energy has been transformed into vital processes, photosynthesis, and later respiration. Both processes lead to oxygen production. The oxygen content O2 of the atmosphere has increased more and more, but oxygen can form radicals and is therefore toxic. Only bacteria that have found a way to "use" the poisonous oxygen, could survive. Antioxidants are substances that bind oxygen. Serotonin, which is produced in two steps from tryptophan in cells, is such an antioxidant, i.e., "oxygen detoxifier". In this way, bacteria have managed to create a stable atmosphere with an oxygen content of about 21%. The processes necessary to cope with light energy and oxygen became vital processes.

In Egyptian mythology Ankh is the elixir of life, represented as a ring cross, which was passed by Ra to the Pharaohs. Ankh can actually not be pronounced; it is the sound / noise that arises when exhaling.

Solar energy, tryptophan, oxygen, serotonin, and respiration are interconnected and in a delicate balance. Humans are changing the atmosphere and disturbing this balance and that is life-threatening. Humans also cannot produce tryptophan and therefore no serotonin and are dependent on plants and bacteria for both substances. It is an extraordinary arrogance of man to believe that we can survive in nature without balance. All indigenous peoples have understood these relationships and gave them their utmost respect. Although we filled in physics and chemistry between Ra and Ankh, we apparently lost respect for the divine wisdom of nature.

If the microcosm were keeping ideas secret, nothing would exist. Problems can only be solved if ideas are generated and shared with each other. The microcosm has taught us this for billions of years and we can learn from it and draw hope.

What does Serotonin do in the human body?

Platelet serotonin (5-HT) is involved in body temperature regulation. Bacteria in our microbiome of the gut make serotonin or stimulate enterochromaffin cells to produce serotonin, which is then released into the blood and taken up by platelets. Since in newborns it takes about 2 weeks for the gut microbiome to establish, it also takes that long for platelets to contain serotonin and for newborns to be able to regulate their own body temperature. Before that they need mom, a heating lamp, or other outside sources to keep warm.

5-HT is a vasoconstrictor, vasodilator and pyrogen, which is a fever-inducing substance. It is astounding, that serotonin has so many functions with seemingly opposite results. This is most likely due to its ancient history and presence in all living organisms. it was invented about 3500 million years ago by cyanobacteria, green algae and fungi as one of the antioxidants. Serotonin was available as communication molecule for all that time and apparently was reused a lot. On the flipside, interfering with serotonin regulation in the body has widespread effects, both positive and negative.

Serotonin-mimetic drugs like Ecstasy (MDMA) affect body temperature regulation.

In the brain, serotonin is involved in the regulation of all basic body functions: mood, food intake, sexual behavior, temperature regulation, to mention a few. Depression is caused by low serotonin availability in the synaptic gaps of serotonergic neurons. Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) are drugs that block the reuptake of serotonin but they also block the uptake into platelets in the blood with its consequences on hemostasis and platelet immune function as well as influencing all other body functions that are regulated by serotonin. Since serotonin is made in the gut a dietary change has been shown to have very positive effects in depression. Exposure to cold, like Wim Hof’s ice bathing, is also known to have antidepressant properties. It could be explained by the fact that under stress - like extreme cold - the blood brain barrier becomes permeable to serotonin.

Fascinating, how nature equipped us with this marvellous body!