title: Association between wind-up ratio and central serotonergic function in healthy subjects and depressed patients.
abstract: Temporal summation of C-fiber evoked responses generates an increase in action potential discharge in second-order neurons and in perceived pain intensity (wind-up). This may be related to the central serotonergic system which modulates and partly inhibits sensory input. Aim of the study was to investigate the relationship between wind-up and serotonergic activity using loudness dependence of auditory evoked potentials (LDAEP). 18 healthy subjects were compared to 18 patients with major depression, a disease with a putative serotonin deficit. They were examined with quantitative sensory testing (QST) using the protocol of the German Research Network on Neuropathic Pain (DFNS), including the wind-up ratio (WUR), LDAEP, and psychometric measurements. We found a slight positive correlation between WUR and LDAEP both in healthy controls and depressed patients combined (r=0.340, p=0.043), indicating that WUR may be modulated by serotonergic activity. It can be concluded that inhibitory control to noxious stimuli is partly associated with the central serotonergic function as indicated by LDAEP.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, Ruhr University Bochum, LWL University Hospital Bochum, Alexandrinenstrasse 1, 44791 Bochum, Germany. Electronic address: idun.uhl@wkp-lwl.org.
authors.forename: Idun
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Uhl
authors.affiliation: Department of Pain Management, Berufsgenossenschaftliche Universitätsklinik Bergmannsheil GmbH, Ruhr University Bochum, Bürkle-de-la-Camp-Platz 1, 44789 Bochum, Germany.
authors.forename: Elena K
authors.initials: EK
authors.lastname: Krumova
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, Ruhr University Bochum, LWL University Hospital Bochum, Alexandrinenstrasse 1, 44791 Bochum, Germany.
authors.forename: Sabrina
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Regeniter
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, Ruhr University Bochum, LWL University Hospital Bochum, Alexandrinenstrasse 1, 44791 Bochum, Germany.
authors.forename: Karl-Jürgen
authors.initials: KJ
authors.lastname: Bär
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, Ruhr University Bochum, LWL University Hospital Bochum, Alexandrinenstrasse 1, 44791 Bochum, Germany.
authors.forename: Christine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Norra
authors.affiliation: Department of Pain Management, Berufsgenossenschaftliche Universitätsklinik Bergmannsheil GmbH, Ruhr University Bochum, Bürkle-de-la-Camp-Platz 1, 44789 Bochum, Germany.
authors.forename: Helmut
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Richter
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, Ruhr University Bochum, LWL University Hospital Bochum, Alexandrinenstrasse 1, 44791 Bochum, Germany.
authors.forename: Hans-Jörg
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Assion
authors.affiliation: Department of Pain Management, Berufsgenossenschaftliche Universitätsklinik Bergmannsheil GmbH, Ruhr University Bochum, Bürkle-de-la-Camp-Platz 1, 44789 Bochum, Germany.
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Westermann
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, Ruhr University Bochum, LWL University Hospital Bochum, Alexandrinenstrasse 1, 44791 Bochum, Germany.
authors.forename: Georg
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Juckel
authors.affiliation: Department of Pain Management, Berufsgenossenschaftliche Universitätsklinik Bergmannsheil GmbH, Ruhr University Bochum, Bürkle-de-la-Camp-Platz 1, 44789 Bochum, Germany.
authors.forename: Christoph
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Maier
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000928:Antidepressive Agents / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003865:Major Depressive Disorder / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000523:psychology*; D004569:Electroencephalography; D005072:Evoked Potentials, Auditory / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008144:Loudness Perception / Q000187:drug effects; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D036421:Nerve Fibers, Unmyelinated / Q000502:physiology; D010146:Pain / Q000523:psychology*; D010147:Pain Measurement; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D011594:Psychometrics; D012701:Serotonin / Q000502:physiology*; D009435:Synaptic Transmission / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D000928:Antidepressive Agents; D012701:Serotonin