Exaggerated 5-HT1A but normal 5-HT2A receptor activity in individuals ill with anorexia nervosa.
BACKGROUND
Many studies have found disturbances of serotonin (5-HT) activity in anorexia nervosa (AN). Because little is known about 5-HT receptor function in AN, positron emission tomography (PET) imaging with 5-HT receptor-specific radioligands was used to characterize 5-HT1A and 5-HT2A receptors.


METHODS
Fifteen women ill with AN (ILL AN) were compared with 29 healthy control women (CW); PET and [11C]WAY100635 were used to assess binding potential (BP) of the 5-HT1A receptor, and [18F]altanserin was used to assess postsynaptic 5-HT2A receptor BP. [15O] water and PET were used to assess cerebral blood flow.


RESULTS
The ILL AN women had a highly significant (30%-70%) increase in [11C]WAY100635 BP in prefrontal and lateral orbital frontal regions, mesial and lateral temporal lobes, parietal cortex, and dorsal raphe nuclei compared with CW. The [18F]altanserin BP was normal in ILL AN but was positively and significantly related to harm avoidance in suprapragenual cingulate, frontal, and parietal regions. Cerebral blood flow was normal in ILL AN women.


CONCLUSIONS
Increased activity of 5-HT1A receptor activity may help explain poor response to 5-HT medication in ILL AN. This study extends data suggesting that 5-HT function, and, specifically, the 5-HT2A receptor, is related to anxiety in AN.
Bailer
Ursula F
UF
Department of Psychiatry, Western Psychiatric Institute and Clinic, School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, University of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15213, USA.
Frank
Guido K
GK
Henry
Shannan E
SE
Price
Julie C
JC
Meltzer
Carolyn C
CC
Mathis
Chester A
CA
Wagner
Angela
A
Thornton
Laura
L
Hoge
Jessica
J
Ziolko
Scott K
SK
Becker
Carl R
CR
McConaha
Claire W
CW
Kaye
Walter H
WH
D000328:Adult; D000856:Anorexia Nervosa / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000503:physiopathology; D002560:Cerebrovascular Circulation / Q000502:physiology; D003627:Data Interpretation, Statistical; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007650:Ketanserin / Q000031:analogs & derivatives; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D010104:Oxygen Radioisotopes; D010879:Piperazines; D049268:Positron-Emission Tomography; D011725:Pyridines; D044282:Receptor, Serotonin, 5-HT1A / Q000378:metabolism*; D044402:Receptor, Serotonin, 5-HT2A / Q000378:metabolism*; D012702:Serotonin Antagonists
D010104:Oxygen Radioisotopes; D010879:Piperazines; D011725:Pyridines; D044402:Receptor, Serotonin, 5-HT2A; D012702:Serotonin Antagonists; D044282:Receptor, Serotonin, 5-HT1A; C071983:altanserin; C090413:N-(2-(4-(2-methoxyphenyl)-1-piperazinyl)ethyl)-N-(2-pyridinyl)cyclohexanecarboxamide; D007650:Ketanserin