title: Brain serotonin transporter binding in depressed patients with bipolar disorder using positron emission tomography.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Depression in bipolar disorder is clinically indistinguishable from that observed in major depressive disorder. As in major depression, selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors targeting brain serotonin transporters are first-line treatments for bipolar depression. Associations of serotonin transporter promoter polymorphisms and bipolarity have been reported; however, research on alterations in serotonergic neurotransmission in bipolar depression remains scant.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To assess in vivo brain serotonin transporter binding potential (BP(1), proportional to serotonin transporter number) in patients with bipolar depression and controls and to examine the relationship between serotonin transporter binding and genotype.
  
  
  METHODS
  Case-control study.
  
  
  METHODS
  University hospital.
  
  
  METHODS
  A sample of 18 medication-free patients with bipolar depression and 41 controls.
  
  
  METHODS
  In vivo brain serotonin transporter binding was measured using positron emission tomography and radiolabeled trans-1,2,3,5,6,10-beta-hexahydro-6-[4-(methylthio)phenyl]pyrrolo-[2,1-a]-isoquinoline ([(11)C](+)-McNeil 5652). Participants were genotyped assessing biallelic and triallelic 5-HTTLPR polymorphisms.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Patients with bipolar disorder had 16% to 26% lower serotonin transporter BP(1) in the midbrain, amygdala, hippocampus, thalamus, putamen, and anterior cingulate cortex. Triallelic 5-HTTLPR genotypes were unrelated to serotonin transporter BP(1).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Lower serotonin transporter BP(1) in bipolar depression overlaps with that observed in major depression and suggests that serotonergic dysfunction is common to depressive conditions.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York, NY 10032, USA. moquendo@neuron.cpmc.columbia.edu
authors.forename: Maria A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Oquendo
authors.forename: Ramin S
authors.initials: RS
authors.lastname: Hastings
authors.forename: Yung-Yu
authors.initials: YY
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.forename: Norman
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Simpson
authors.forename: R Todd
authors.initials: RT
authors.lastname: Ogden
authors.forename: Xian-Zhang
authors.initials: XZ
authors.lastname: Hu
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Goldman
authors.forename: Victoria
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Arango
authors.forename: Ronald L
authors.initials: RL
authors.lastname: Van Heertum
authors.forename: J John
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Mann
authors.forename: Ramin V
authors.initials: RV
authors.lastname: Parsey
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001714:Bipolar Disorder / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000378:metabolism*; D001921:Brain / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000378:metabolism; D002250:Carbon Radioisotopes; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D005838:Genotype; D006801:Humans; D007546:Isoquinolines; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D049268:Positron-Emission Tomography / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012701:Serotonin / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology; D050486:Serotonin Plasma Membrane Transport Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000502:physiology; D014018:Tissue Distribution
chemical_list: D002250:Carbon Radioisotopes; D007546:Isoquinolines; D050486:Serotonin Plasma Membrane Transport Proteins; D012701:Serotonin; C058079:McN 5652