Reduced serotonin transporter binding in binge eating women.
BACKGROUND
There is evidence that abnormalities in brain dopamine, norepinephrine and serotonin metabolism may play an important role in binge eating. Serotonin-active antidepressant drugs have also been found to decrease binge eating.


OBJECTIVE
We investigated serotonin transporter binding in obese binge-eating women. Eleven obese binge-eating and seven obese control women participated in the study. The subjects were not taking any medication known to affect serotonin (5-HT) transporters.


METHODS
We used single-photon emission tomography (SPECT) with the radioligand 123I-labelled nor-beta-CIT, which specifically labels 5-HT transporters.


RESULTS
Obese binge-eating women showed significantly decreased 5-HT transporter binding in the mid-brain compared with obese controls (2.1 +/- 0.5 versus 2.9 +/- 0.5, respectively).


CONCLUSIONS
SPECT imaging with a ligand specific for 5-HT transporters can be used to assess altered serotonin transporter binding in the living human brain. The results tentatively suggest that 5-HT transporter binding is decreased in binge-eating women.
Kuikka
J T
JT
Department of Clinical Physiology, Kuopio University Hospital, Finland. jkuikka@uku.fi
Tammela
L
L
Karhunen
L
L
Rissanen
A
A
Bergström
K A
KA
Naukkarinen
H
H
Vanninen
E
E
Karhu
J
J
Lappalainen
R
R
Repo-Tiihonen
E
E
Tiihonen
J
J
Uusitupa
M
M
D000328:Adult; D002032:Bulimia / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000523:psychology; D002352:Carrier Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D003042:Cocaine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D026901:Membrane Transport Proteins; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins; D009765:Obesity / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000523:psychology; D011485:Protein Binding; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D019275:Radiopharmaceuticals; D011985:Receptors, Serotonin / Q000378:metabolism; D050486:Serotonin Plasma Membrane Transport Proteins; D015899:Tomography, Emission-Computed, Single-Photon
D002352:Carrier Proteins; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins; D026901:Membrane Transport Proteins; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins; D019275:Radiopharmaceuticals; D011985:Receptors, Serotonin; C493230:SLC6A4 protein, human; D050486:Serotonin Plasma Membrane Transport Proteins; C086915:N-nor-3-(4'-iodophenyl)tropane-2-carboxylic acid methyl ester; D003042:Cocaine