Systemic administration of 5,7-HT to newborn rats produces an altered development of the 5-HT neurons in the central nervous system, with marked regional differences. 5,7-Hydroxytryptamine can enter the brain and elicit its neurotoxic actions after systemic administration in the neonatal stage due to an incompletely developed blood-brain barrier, which for 5,7-HT is elaborated between postnatal Days 5 and 7. Treatment with 5,7-HT at birth produces marked and permanent 5-HT denervation in the cerebral cortex and spinal cord, whereas hyperinnervation occurs in the 5-HT cell body-near regions (mesencephalon-pons-medulla). The latter effect is seen within the first week postnatally. Treatment with 5,7-HT also affects NA neurons in a similar manner, although the action is exerted preferentially on 5-HT neurons. A selective effect on 5-HT neurons can be achieved by DMI pretreatment, after which both NA and DA neurons develop normally. No signs of any interaction among growing 5-HT, NA, and DA neurons can be observed. Studies of the postsynaptic 5-HT receptor in vitro with [3H]-5-HT and [3H]LSD binding indicate that this receptor develops independently of presynaptic 5-HT nerve terminals. Neither 5-HT denervation nor 5-HT hyperinnervation was accompanied by any change in receptor-binding characteristics or receptor density. The results available are compatible with the view that the consequences for 5-HT neurons that occur after neonatal 5,7-HT administration are mainly due to a "pruning effect." The developing 5-HT neurons seem to be programmed to produce a certain quantity of nerve terminal arborizations, which they try to conserve after 5-HT-induced injury, leading to the observed rearrangement of 5-HT nerve terminals.