Widespread increases of cortical serotonin type 2A receptor availability after hormone therapy in euthymic postmenopausal women.
OBJECTIVE
To use statistical parametric mapping to determine the extent of previously reported serotonin type 2A (5HT(2A)) receptor binding potential (BP) increases in postmenopausal women following hormone therapy.


METHODS
Repeated measures positron emission tomography (PET) study.


METHODS
Academic research environment.


METHODS
Five healthy, postmenopausal women.


METHODS
Serial PET images of [(18)F]altanserin uptake were acquired to measure 5HT(2A) receptor BP at menopausal baseline, following estradiol (E(2)), and following combined E(2) + micronized progesterone (P(4)).


METHODS
5HT(2A) receptor BP.


RESULTS
Combined E(2) + P(4) treatment was associated with significant increases in the 5HT(2A) receptor BP increases in widespread areas of cerebral cortex. Treatment with E(2) alone was also associated with widespread cortical BP increases, although these changes reached statistical significance in fewer regions. The rate of [(18)F]altanserin metabolism was significantly decreased in the E(2) + P(4) condition relative to menopausal baseline, but this difference did not appear to correlate with changes in 5HT(2A) receptor BP.


CONCLUSIONS
Estradiol priming followed by combined E(2) + P(4) is associated with widespread increases in 5HT(2A) receptor BP in the cerebral cortex, consistent with the E(2)-associated increases in 5HT(2A) receptor density previously observed in experimental animals.
Moses-Kolko
Eydie L
EL
Department of Psychiatry, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA. mosesEL@msx.upmc.edu
Berga
Sarah L
SL
Greer
Phil J
PJ
Smith
Gwenn
G
Cidis Meltzer
Carolyn
C
Drevets
Wayne C
WC
D000279:Administration, Cutaneous; D000284:Administration, Oral; D002540:Cerebral Cortex / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D004338:Drug Combinations; D004958:Estradiol / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D015914:Estrogen Replacement Therapy; D005260:Female; D005462:Fluorine Radioisotopes; D006801:Humans; D007650:Ketanserin / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D011374:Progesterone / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D044402:Receptor, Serotonin, 5-HT2A; D011985:Receptors, Serotonin / Q000378:metabolism*; D014018:Tissue Distribution; D014055:Tomography, Emission-Computed
D004338:Drug Combinations; D005462:Fluorine Radioisotopes; D044402:Receptor, Serotonin, 5-HT2A; D011985:Receptors, Serotonin; D011374:Progesterone; D004958:Estradiol; C071983:altanserin; D007650:Ketanserin