Frontal 5-HT2A receptors studied in depressive patients during chronic treatment by selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors.
To investigate adaptative changes of 5-HT2A receptors induced by SSRIs, six patients chronically treated for a depressive episode (four with fluoxetine, two with fluvoxamine) were studied with PET and [18F]setoperone. They were compared to eight untreated depressive patients. The mean frontal to cerebellum radioactivity concentration ratio, an index of the [18F]setoperone specific binding to 5-HT2A receptors, was higher in treated than in untreated patients, when age was taken into account. This suggests that chronic treatment by SSRIs could induce an up-regulation of the 5-HT2A receptors, and that 5-HT2A receptor down-regulation is not a common mechanism for the therapeutic effects of all serotoninergic antidepressive drugs.
Massou
J M
JM
INSERM U 334, CEA, Service Hospitalier Frédéric Joliot, Orsay, France.
Trichard
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C
Attar-Levy
D
D
Feline
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A
Corruble
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E
Beaufils
B
B
Martinot
J L
JL
D000328:Adult; D000928:Antidepressive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D005462:Fluorine Radioisotopes; D005625:Frontal Lobe / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011744:Pyrimidinones / Q000378:metabolism; D044402:Receptor, Serotonin, 5-HT2A; D011985:Receptors, Serotonin / Q000378:metabolism*; D017367:Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D014055:Tomography, Emission-Computed
D000928:Antidepressive Agents; D005462:Fluorine Radioisotopes; D011744:Pyrimidinones; D044402:Receptor, Serotonin, 5-HT2A; D011985:Receptors, Serotonin; D017367:Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors; C045359:setoperone