title: Mood changes after delivery: role of the serotonin transporter gene.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Polymorphic variations in the serotonin transporter gene (5-HTT) moderate the depressogenic effects of tryptophan depletion. After childbirth there is a sharp reduction in brain tryptophan availability, thus polymorphic variations in 5-HTT may play a similar role in the post-partum period.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To study the role of 5-HTT polymorphic variations in mood changes after delivery.
  
  
  METHODS
  One thousand, eight hundred and four depression-free Spanish women were studied post-partum. We evaluated depressive symptoms at 2-3 days, 8 weeks and 32 weeks post-partum. We used diagnostic interview to confirm major depression for all probable cases. Based on two polymorphisms of 5-HTT (5-HTTLPR and STin2 VNTR), three genotype combinations were created to reflect different levels of 5-HTT expression.
  
  
  RESULTS
  One hundred and seventy-three women (12.7%) experienced major depression during the 32-week post-partum period. Depressive symptoms were associated with the high-expression 5-HTT genotypes in a dose-response fashion at 8 weeks post-partum, but not at 32 weeks.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  High-expression 5-HTT genotypes may render women more vulnerable to depressive symptoms after childbirth.
authors.affiliation: Hospital Clínico, UV, CIBER Enfermedades Mentales,Valencia, Spain. julio.sanjuan@uv.es
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Sanjuan
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Martin-Santos
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Garcia-Esteve
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Carot
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Guillamat
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Gutierrez-Zotes
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Gornemann
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Canellas
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Baca-Garcia
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Jover
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Navines
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Valles
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Vilella
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: de Diego
authors.forename: J A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Castro
authors.forename: J L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Ivorra
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Gelabert
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Guitart
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Labad
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Mayoral
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Roca
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Gratacos
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Costas
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: van Os
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: de Frutos
mesh_terms: D019052:Depression, Postpartum / Q000235:genetics*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D015870:Gene Expression; D006801:Humans; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic / Q000235:genetics*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D050486:Serotonin Plasma Membrane Transport Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D013030:Spain; D014364:Tryptophan / Q000172:deficiency*
chemical_list: C493230:SLC6A4 protein, human; D050486:Serotonin Plasma Membrane Transport Proteins; D014364:Tryptophan