title: Disturbance of serotonin 5HT2 receptors in remitted patients suffering from hereditary depressive disorder.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The characteristics of 5HT2 receptor binding were investigated in major depression in vivo using positron emission tomography and the radioligand F-18-altanserin.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twelve patients from families with high loading of depression living in a geographically restricted region were examined and compared with normal control subjects. At the time of the PET measurement all patients were remitted; in some of them remission was sustained by antidepressive medication. Binding potential was assessed by Logan's graphical analysis method.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The binding of F-18-altanserin was about 38% lower in patients than in healthy controls (p < 0.001). A multiple regression analysis revealed that this difference was mainly induced by depression rather than by medication.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The data suggest that 5HT2 receptors are altered in depression. We present evidence for a reduction of the receptor density, which might be usable as trait marker of subjects susceptible for depressive illness.
authors.affiliation: Kliniken für Nuklearmedizin, Heinrich-Heine-Universität, Düsseldorf, Deutschland. Rolf.Larisch@uni-duesseldorf.de
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Larisch
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Klimke
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Mayoral
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Hamacher
authors.forename: H R
authors.initials: HR
authors.lastname: Herzog
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Vosberg
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Tosch
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Gaebel
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Rivas
authors.forename: H H
authors.initials: HH
authors.lastname: Coenen
authors.forename: H W
authors.initials: HW
authors.lastname: Müller-Gärtner
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000375:Aging; D001921:Brain / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D002540:Cerebral Cortex / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D005462:Fluorine Radioisotopes / Q000493:pharmacokinetics*; D006801:Humans; D007650:Ketanserin / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000493:pharmacokinetics*; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009928:Organ Specificity; D010375:Pedigree; D011985:Receptors, Serotonin / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism*; D012016:Reference Values; D012044:Regression Analysis; D014055:Tomography, Emission-Computed
chemical_list: D005462:Fluorine Radioisotopes; D011985:Receptors, Serotonin; C071983:altanserin; D007650:Ketanserin