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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 7 of 7. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by JohnB on November 4, 2000, at 15:10:26
From the Archives of General Psychiatry, September 2000 issue:
Brain Serotonin2 Receptors in Major Depression
A Positron Emission Tomography StudyPostmortem and brain imaging studies that measured brain serotinin2 (5-HT2) receptors in major depression reported an increase, decrease, and no change compared with controls. In this study, we assessed brain 5-HT2 receptors in 20 depressed patients (mean SD age, 40.1 9.5 years; range, 22-60 years) and 20 healthy controls similar in age (37.2 12.6 years; range, 19-59 years) using positron emission tomography and setoperone labeled with fluorine 18 ([18F]setoperone).
Methods Patients with DSM-IV major depression and healthy controls underwent scanning with [18F]setoperone. All study subjects were drug free for at least 2 weeks.
The 5-HT2 binding images were created using region-to-cerebellum ratios. The differences in 5-HT2 receptor binding potential between the two groups were determined with statistical parametric mapping software and region of interest analysis.
Results There was a significant negative correlation between 5-HT2 receptor binding potential and age in both patients and controls, and the magnitude of this correlation was similar in both groups.
Both statistical parametric mapping and region of interest analyses showed that, compared with healthy controls, depressed patients had significantly lower 5-HT2 receptor binding potential in frontal, temporal, parietal, and occipital cortical regions.
Statistical parametric mapping analysis showed that the mean decrease in 5-HT2 receptor binding potential for the entire cluster in these regions was 22%, and it ranged from 22% to 27% for local maxima within the clusters of significant voxels.
Conclusion: This study suggests that brain 5-HT2 receptors are decreased in patients with major depression.
Arch Gen Psychiatry. 2000;57:850-858
Posted by R.Anne on November 4, 2000, at 15:29:14
In reply to Brain Serotonin Receptors in Depression , posted by JohnB on November 4, 2000, at 15:10:26
> From the Archives of General Psychiatry, September 2000 issue:
>
> Brain Serotonin2 Receptors in Major Depression
>
> A Positron Emission Tomography Study
>
> Postmortem and brain imaging studies that measured brain serotinin2 (5-HT2) receptors in major depression reported an increase, decrease, and no change compared with controls. In this study, we assessed brain 5-HT2 receptors in 20 depressed patients (mean SD age, 40.1 9.5 years; range, 22-60 years) and 20 healthy controls similar in age (37.2 12.6 years; range, 19-59 years) using positron emission tomography and setoperone labeled with fluorine 18 ([18F]setoperone).
>
> Methods Patients with DSM-IV major depression and healthy controls underwent scanning with [18F]setoperone. All study subjects were drug free for at least 2 weeks.
>
> The 5-HT2 binding images were created using region-to-cerebellum ratios. The differences in 5-HT2 receptor binding potential between the two groups were determined with statistical parametric mapping software and region of interest analysis.
>
> Results There was a significant negative correlation between 5-HT2 receptor binding potential and age in both patients and controls, and the magnitude of this correlation was similar in both groups.
>
> Both statistical parametric mapping and region of interest analyses showed that, compared with healthy controls, depressed patients had significantly lower 5-HT2 receptor binding potential in frontal, temporal, parietal, and occipital cortical regions.
>
> Statistical parametric mapping analysis showed that the mean decrease in 5-HT2 receptor binding potential for the entire cluster in these regions was 22%, and it ranged from 22% to 27% for local maxima within the clusters of significant voxels.
>
> Conclusion: This study suggests that brain 5-HT2 receptors are decreased in patients with major depression.
>
> Arch Gen Psychiatry. 2000;57:850-858
>
> http://archpsyc.ama-assn.org/issues/v57n9/abs/yoa9376.html*****
Thanks, John, good article!
Posted by noa on November 5, 2000, at 10:17:11
In reply to Re: Brain Serotonin Receptors in Depression , posted by R.Anne on November 4, 2000, at 15:29:14
Thanks John. I am trying to understand this. Maybe you can help. Some thoughts/questions:
It doesn't say whether the depressed patients were on long term AD therapy or not, and whether that could affect the numbers of 5HT2 receptors.
If SSRIs and some other ADs end up making more serotonin available, this includes both 5HT1 and 5HT2, yes?
For me, it seems 5HT2 is the source of the adverse side effects I get on SSRIs and Effexor (agitation, activation, insomnia, myoclonus, restlessness, etc.).
Those effects are lessened significantly by Serzone, which, I believe, Blocks 5HT2 receptors.
Some people get the opposite effects on SSRIs and effexor--ie, they get sleepy, rather than sleepless.
Do you think that the difference between me and them could be the number of 5HT2 receptors? Ie, do you think I would not fit the pattern of the depressed group in the study?
Posted by JohnB on November 7, 2000, at 0:59:27
In reply to Re: Brain Serotonin Receptors in Depression , posted by noa on November 5, 2000, at 10:17:11
This is just an abstract, to get the full article you have to order it, I think. It did say that the subjects had been drug-free for 2 weeks.
As to it's significance for you, maybe one of our resident neurochemistry persons will comment.
Posted by danf on November 7, 2000, at 8:01:33
In reply to Re: Brain Serotonin Receptors in Depression , posted by noa on November 5, 2000, at 10:17:11
The short answer... no one knows.
We don't yet know how valid serotonin receptor typing is, in terms of specific disorders &/or meds
There still need to be different serotonin specific markers used for imaging along with markers for other neurotransmitters. The current markers may be too specific or not specific enough
We still need:
pretreatment & post treatment studies over time of different disorders
pre & post ECT with followup over time
studies are greatly hampered by not having a valid animal model with a brain close to human.
I would put the current level somewhere like this.
we are about to work on a car & are trying wrenches. we have yet to decide if we need english, metric or Russian wrenches. Some that have been tried seem to fit, sometimes...
Posted by anita on November 8, 2000, at 19:21:11
In reply to Brain Serotonin Receptors in Depression , posted by JohnB on November 4, 2000, at 15:10:26
Depression and 5HT2 receptors are complicated -- most studies claim that there are too many 5HT2A receptors in depression, while a significant amount, like this one, claim that there are too few. I think this simply means that there are many different kinds of depression, some that have 5HT2A receptor supersensitivity, some that have undersensitivity, and some that may have nothing to do with the 5HT2A receptor.
anita
> From the Archives of General Psychiatry, September 2000 issue:
>
> Brain Serotonin2 Receptors in Major Depression
>
> A Positron Emission Tomography Study
>
> Postmortem and brain imaging studies that measured brain serotinin2 (5-HT2) receptors in major depression reported an increase, decrease, and no change compared with controls. In this study, we assessed brain 5-HT2 receptors in 20 depressed patients (mean SD age, 40.1 9.5 years; range, 22-60 years) and 20 healthy controls similar in age (37.2 12.6 years; range, 19-59 years) using positron emission tomography and setoperone labeled with fluorine 18 ([18F]setoperone).
>
> Methods Patients with DSM-IV major depression and healthy controls underwent scanning with [18F]setoperone. All study subjects were drug free for at least 2 weeks.
>
> The 5-HT2 binding images were created using region-to-cerebellum ratios. The differences in 5-HT2 receptor binding potential between the two groups were determined with statistical parametric mapping software and region of interest analysis.
>
> Results There was a significant negative correlation between 5-HT2 receptor binding potential and age in both patients and controls, and the magnitude of this correlation was similar in both groups.
>
> Both statistical parametric mapping and region of interest analyses showed that, compared with healthy controls, depressed patients had significantly lower 5-HT2 receptor binding potential in frontal, temporal, parietal, and occipital cortical regions.
>
> Statistical parametric mapping analysis showed that the mean decrease in 5-HT2 receptor binding potential for the entire cluster in these regions was 22%, and it ranged from 22% to 27% for local maxima within the clusters of significant voxels.
>
> Conclusion: This study suggests that brain 5-HT2 receptors are decreased in patients with major depression.
>
> Arch Gen Psychiatry. 2000;57:850-858
>
> http://archpsyc.ama-assn.org/issues/v57n9/abs/yoa9376.html
Posted by noa on November 9, 2000, at 6:04:33
In reply to Re: Brain Serotonin Receptors in Depression , posted by anita on November 8, 2000, at 19:21:11
> I think this simply means that there are many different kinds of depression, some that have 5HT2A receptor supersensitivity, some that have undersensitivity, and some that may have nothing to do with the 5HT2A receptor.
Thanks, Anita.
I just hope more research is done in this area so we can find out more about different types of depression, in terms of receptors. I think that could pare down some of the trial and error process of finding the right medication, which could help in expediting remission.
This is the end of the thread.
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