Advances in in vivo imaging of serotonergic neurons in neuropsychiatric disorders.
Alterations of central serotonergic neurotransmission, particularly changes in the presynaptically located serotonin transporter (SERT) availability, are thought to be one of the major pathomechanisms of neuropsychiatric symptoms. Modern neuroimaging techniques such as single-photon emission computed tomography and positron emission tomography employ radiolabeled tracers, which bind to SERT, and thus, allow detection of cerebral SERT availability in vivo. We review SERT imaging studies in patients with depression, anxiety disorders, eating disorders and patients with neurological diseases. We furthermore elucidate the potential of SERT imaging techniques in estimating the effect of selective serotonin reuptake-inhibitors.
Hesse
Swen
S
Department of Nuclear Medicine, University Hospital, University of Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany. hessw@medizin.uni-leipzig.de
Barthel
Henryk
H
Schwarz
Johannes
J
Sabri
Osama
O
Müller
Ulrich
U
D000818:Animals; D003952:Diagnostic Imaging; D006801:Humans; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D026901:Membrane Transport Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000378:metabolism*; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D009422:Nervous System Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000378:metabolism*; D009474:Neurons / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D049268:Positron-Emission Tomography; D012701:Serotonin / Q000378:metabolism*; D018490:Serotonin Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D050486:Serotonin Plasma Membrane Transport Proteins; D015899:Tomography, Emission-Computed, Single-Photon
D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins; D026901:Membrane Transport Proteins; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins; C493230:SLC6A4 protein, human; D018490:Serotonin Agents; D050486:Serotonin Plasma Membrane Transport Proteins; D012701:Serotonin