Serotonin 1A receptor reductions in postpartum depression: a positron emission tomography study.
OBJECTIVE
To measure brain serotonin-1A (5HT1A) receptor binding potential (BP) in healthy and depressed postpartum women.


METHODS
5HT1A receptor BP was measured with positron emission tomography by using [(11)C]WAY100635 a single time. Multivariate analysis of variance was used to determine depression effects on 5HT1A receptor BP in relevant brain regions.


METHODS
An academic research environment.


METHODS
Seven postpartum healthy controls and nine postpartum depressed (PD) subjects with perinatal (antepartum or postpartum) depression onset. Of the nine PD subjects, five had unipolar depression, and four had bipolar disorder.


METHODS
None.


METHODS
5HT1A receptor BP.


RESULTS
Age, time since delivery, and reproductive hormones did not differ between groups. Postsynaptic 5HT1A receptor binding in postpartum depression was reduced 20%-28% relative to controls, with most significant reductions in anterior cingulate and mesiotemporal cortices.


CONCLUSIONS
Postsynaptic 5HT1A receptor binding is reduced in PD women by a similar magnitude as has been shown in other depression samples. The postpartum hormonal milieu and the large proportion of bipolar spectrum subjects in the PD group may have accentuated this finding in this small sample. Recognition of this neurobiological deficit in postpartum depression may be useful in the development of treatments and prevention strategies for this disabling disorder.
Moses-Kolko
Eydie L
EL
Department of Psychiatry, University of Pittsburgh, School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA. mosesel@upmc.edu
Wisner
Katherine L
KL
Price
Julie C
JC
Berga
Sarah L
SL
Drevets
Wayne C
WC
Hanusa
Barbara H
BH
Loucks
Tammy L
TL
Meltzer
Carolyn C
CC
D000328:Adult; D001923:Brain Chemistry; D001942:Breast Feeding; D002250:Carbon Radioisotopes; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D019052:Depression, Postpartum / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000378:metabolism; D004958:Estradiol / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone / Q000097:blood; D006801:Humans; D008032:Limbic System / Q000737:chemistry / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone / Q000097:blood; D010879:Piperazines / Q000378:metabolism; D049268:Positron-Emission Tomography / Q000379:methods; D011374:Progesterone / Q000097:blood; D011388:Prolactin / Q000097:blood; D011485:Protein Binding; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D011725:Pyridines / Q000378:metabolism; D044282:Receptor, Serotonin, 5-HT1A / Q000032:analysis* / Q000378:metabolism; D012702:Serotonin Antagonists / Q000378:metabolism; D013997:Time Factors
D002250:Carbon Radioisotopes; D010879:Piperazines; D011725:Pyridines; D012702:Serotonin Antagonists; D044282:Receptor, Serotonin, 5-HT1A; D011374:Progesterone; D004958:Estradiol; C090413:N-(2-(4-(2-methoxyphenyl)-1-piperazinyl)ethyl)-N-(2-pyridinyl)cyclohexanecarboxamide; D011388:Prolactin; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone