Neuronal effects of acute citalopram detected by pharmacoMRI.
BACKGROUND
Serotonin (5-hydroxytryptamine, 5-HT) is implicated in the aetiology and treatment of a variety of psychiatric disorders. A limitation of research has been the necessity to use indirect measures of 5-HT function.


METHODS
We describe a method of analysing pharmacoMRI data using SPM and apply it to the direct i.v. infusion of selective 5-HT reuptake inhibitor, citalopram, in 12 healthy volunteers. Scanning took place on a 1.5-T Philips MRI scanner.


RESULTS
Areas implicated in depression and its treatment were observed to have increasing signal with respect to time. These areas included the caudate, the amygdala, the hippocampus, the striatum and the thalamus.


CONCLUSIONS
Direct pMRI using i.v. citalopram opens new ways of investigating 5-HT mechanism in depression and its treatment.
McKie
S
S
Neuroscience and Psychiatry Unit, The University of Manchester, Manchester, UK.
Del-Ben
C
C
Elliott
R
R
Williams
S
S
del Vai
N
N
Anderson
I
I
Deakin
J F W
JF
D000328:Adult; D001921:Brain / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000098:blood supply* / Q000187:drug effects*; D001931:Brain Mapping; D015283:Citalopram / Q000097:blood / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods; D008297:Male; D010147:Pain Measurement / Q000379:methods; D011388:Prolactin / Q000097:blood; D017367:Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors / Q000097:blood / Q000494:pharmacology*; D016037:Single-Blind Method; D013997:Time Factors
D015283:Citalopram; D011388:Prolactin; D017367:Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors