Smoking-associated changes in the serotonergic systems of discrete regions of human brain.
This paper describes the results of a postmortem study of the effects of tobacco smoking on the concentrations of 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) and 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid (5-HIAA) as well as the binding of [3H]-8-hydroxy-(di-n-propylamino)-tetralin ([3H]-8-OH-DPAT) and [3H]-ketanserin in six discrete regions of human brain. Smoking was associated with significant decreases in the concentrations of 5-HIAA in the hippocampal neocortex (P less than 0.001), hippocampal formation (P less than 0.05) and the median raphe nuclei (P less than 0.05). The 5-HT level of the hippocampal formation was also significantly reduced in smokers (P less than 0.05). These changes were accompanied by significant increases in the binding of [3H]-8-OH-DPAT in the hippocampal neocortex (P less than 0.01) and hippocampal formation (P less than 0.05). [3H]-Ketanserin binding in the brain regions studied was unaffected by smoking. It is concluded that smoking is associated with a regionally selective decrease in the activity of the serotonergic system of the human hippocampus.
Benwell
M E
ME
Department of Pharmacology and Clinical Pharmacology, University Medical School, Ninewells Hospital, Dundee, Scotland, UK.
Balfour
D J
DJ
Anderson
J M
JM
D017371:8-Hydroxy-2-(di-n-propylamino)tetralin; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001667:Binding, Competitive / Q000187:drug effects; D001923:Brain Chemistry / Q000187:drug effects*; D005260:Female; D006624:Hippocampus / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D006897:Hydroxyindoleacetic Acid / Q000378:metabolism; D007650:Ketanserin / Q000494:pharmacology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012701:Serotonin / Q000378:metabolism*; D012907:Smoking / Q000378:metabolism*; D013764:Tetrahydronaphthalenes / Q000378:metabolism
D013764:Tetrahydronaphthalenes; D012701:Serotonin; D006897:Hydroxyindoleacetic Acid; D017371:8-Hydroxy-2-(di-n-propylamino)tetralin; D007650:Ketanserin