Cigarette Smoking-Associated Alterations in Serotonin/Adrenalin Signaling Pathways of Platelets.

Background: Cigarette smoking plays a major role in cardiovascular diseases. The acute effects of cigarette smoking produce central nervous system-mediated activation of the sympathetic nervous system. The overactive sympathetic nervous system stimulates the secretion of serotonin (5-HT) and catecholamine into blood at supraphysiological levels.