title: Reduced serotonin transporter binding in binge eating women.
abstract: 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.
authors: Department of Clinical Physiology, Kuopio University Hospital, Finland. jkuikka@uku.fi
authors: J T
authors: JT
authors: Kuikka
authors: L
authors: L
authors: Tammela
authors: L
authors: L
authors: Karhunen
authors: A
authors: A
authors: Rissanen
authors: K A
authors: KA
authors: Bergström
authors: H
authors: H
authors: Naukkarinen
authors: E
authors: E
authors: Vanninen
authors: J
authors: J
authors: Karhu
authors: R
authors: R
authors: Lappalainen
authors: E
authors: E
authors: Repo-Tiihonen
authors: J
authors: J
authors: Tiihonen
authors: M
authors: M
authors: Uusitupa
mesh_terms: 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
chemical_list: 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