title: Cortical serotonin 5-HT2A receptor binding and social communication in adults with Asperger's syndrome: an in vivo SPECT study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The cause of autistic spectrum disorder (i.e., autism and Asperger's syndrome) is unknown. The serotonergic (5-HT) system may be especially implicated. However, cortical 5-HT2A receptor density in adults with the disorder has not been examined, to the authors' knowledge.
  
  
  METHODS
  The authors investigated cortical 5-HT2A receptor binding in eight adults with Asperger's syndrome and in 10 healthy comparison subjects with single photon emission computed tomography and the selective 5-HT2A receptor ligand 123I iodinated 4-amino-N-[1-[3-(4-fluorophenoxy)propyl]-4-methyl-4-piperidinyl]-5-iodo-2-methoxybenzamide (123I-5-I-R91150).
  
  
  RESULTS
  People with Asperger's syndrome had a significant reduction in cortical 5-HT2A receptor binding in the total, anterior, and posterior cingulate; bilaterally in the frontal and superior temporal lobes; and in the left parietal lobe. Also, reduced receptor binding was significantly related to abnormal social communication.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The authors' findings suggest that adults with Asperger's syndrome have abnormalities in cortical 5-HT2A receptor density and that this deficit may underlie some clinical symptoms.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Psychiatry, Department of Psychological Medicine, London, UK. sphadgm@iop.kcl.ac.uk
authors.forename: Declan G M
authors.initials: DG
authors.lastname: Murphy
authors.forename: Eileen
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Daly
authors.forename: Nicole
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Schmitz
authors.forename: Fiona
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Toal
authors.forename: Keiran
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Murphy
authors.forename: Sarah
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Curran
authors.forename: Kjell
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Erlandsson
authors.forename: Jos
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Eersels
authors.forename: Robert
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Kerwin
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Ell
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Travis
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D020817:Asperger Syndrome / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000523:psychology; D002540:Cerebral Cortex / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000378:metabolism*; D003142:Communication; D007839:Functional Laterality; D006179:Gyrus Cinguli / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D007457:Iodine Radioisotopes; D008297:Male; D010296:Parietal Lobe / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000378:metabolism; D010880:Piperidines; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D044402:Receptor, Serotonin, 5-HT2A / Q000378:metabolism*; D012919:Social Behavior; D013702:Temporal Lobe / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000378:metabolism; D015899:Tomography, Emission-Computed, Single-Photon
chemical_list: D007457:Iodine Radioisotopes; D010880:Piperidines; C105020:R 91150; D044402:Receptor, Serotonin, 5-HT2A