5-hydroxytryptamine and depression: a model for the interaction of normal variance with pathology.
1 Theories linking 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) with depression are briefly reviewed. The various experimental strategies adopted to investigate this relationship, examination of autopsy data, CSF metabolite data, 5-HT re-uptake patterns in human blood platelets and imipramine binding studies in human platelets, are discussed. 2 Recent studies of 5-hydroxyindole acetic acid (5-HIAA) levels in cerebrospinal fluid have revealed a linkage between low 5-HIAA levels and suicide, aggression and impulsivity. Decreases in the number of imipramine binding sites have also been found in brains of suicide victims. 3 The available data lead to the conclusion that decreased 5-hydroxytryptaminergic function may be associated with an increased risk of depression, suicide, and some types of aggression.
D000374:Aggression / Q000502:physiology; D000818:Animals; D001344:Autopsy; D001679:Biogenic Amines / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid / Q000378:metabolism; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D006897:Hydroxyindoleacetic Acid / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid; D007099:Imipramine / Q000378:metabolism; D008954:Models, Biological; D019964:Mood Disorders / Q000378:metabolism; D011339:Probenecid / Q000378:metabolism; D012701:Serotonin / Q000378:metabolism*; D013405:Suicide / Q000378:metabolism
D001679:Biogenic Amines; D012701:Serotonin; D006897:Hydroxyindoleacetic Acid; D007099:Imipramine; D011339:Probenecid