title: Serotonin receptor, SERT mRNA and correlations with symptoms in males with alcohol dependence and suicide.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study tested the hypothesis that abnormalities in components of the serotonin (5HT) system in the prefrontal cortex are associated with suicide in alcohol-dependent subjects. Second, we assessed the relationship of lifetime impulsivity and mood symptoms with prefrontal cortex 5-HT measures.
  
  
  METHODS
  Tissue was obtained from Brodmann's areas (BA) 9 and 24 in postmortem samples of individuals who were alcohol dependent with suicide (n = 5), alcohol dependent without suicide (n = 9) and normal controls (n = 5). Serotonin receptor (5HT) and serotonin reuptake transporter (SERT) mRNA were measured. Interviews with next of kin estimated lifetime impulsivity and mood symptoms in the last week of life.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Serotonin receptor 1A (5HT1A) mRNA in BA 9 was elevated in the alcohol dependence without suicide group compared with controls. In the alcohol dependence with suicide group, anxiety symptoms were associated with decreased BA 24 SERT mRNA and depressive symptoms with BA 9 5HT1A mRNA expression. In the alcohol dependent only group impulsivity is correlated with increased BA 9, and BA 24 serotonin receptor 2A mRNA.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our data suggest region-specific change, rather than global serotonin blunting is involved in alcohol dependence and suicide. It also suggests that symptoms are differentially influenced by prefrontal cortex serotonin receptor mRNA levels.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, University of Texas Health Science Center San Antonio Southwest Brain Bank, USA. thompsonp@uthscsa.edu
authors.forename: P M
authors.initials: PM
authors.lastname: Thompson
authors.forename: D A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Cruz
authors.forename: D Y
authors.initials: DY
authors.lastname: Olukotun
authors.forename: P L
authors.initials: PL
authors.lastname: Delgado
mesh_terms: D000437:Alcoholism / Q000150:complications / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D001344:Autopsy; D001921:Brain / Q000378:metabolism; D002540:Cerebral Cortex / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D007175:Impulsive Behavior / Q000150:complications / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism*; D044282:Receptor, Serotonin, 5-HT1A / Q000235:genetics*; D044402:Receptor, Serotonin, 5-HT2A / Q000235:genetics*; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012307:Risk Factors; D013405:Suicide
chemical_list: D012333:RNA, Messenger; D044402:Receptor, Serotonin, 5-HT2A; D044282:Receptor, Serotonin, 5-HT1A