title: 5-HT2 receptor distribution shown by [18F] setoperone PET in high-functioning autistic adults.
abstract: The serotonergic system is implicated in disordered emotional behavior. Autism is characterized by impaired processing of emotional information. The serotonergic (5-HT) system is also critically involved in brain development, and abnormal brain synthesis of serotonin is observed in autism. Furthermore, whole blood and platelet serotonin have been reported to be elevated in autism. The authors examined the CNS serotonin system in autism in vivo. 5-HT2 receptors were visualized by PET imaging of [18F]setoperone-binding in this pilot study of 6 high-functioning autistic adults and 10 matched-control participants. Autism subjects had less thalamic [18F]setoperone binding than controls, when covaried for age, but no difference reached significance in other areas. A negative relationship between thalamic binding and history of language impairment was also observed. Further studies will be needed to gain a clearer picture of the role of the 5-HT system in autism.
authors: Department of Radiology, the Thompson Center, University of Missouri, MO, USA. beversdorfd@health.missouri.edu
authors: David Q
authors: DQ
authors: Beversdorf
authors: Richard E
authors: RE
authors: Nordgren
authors: Ali A
authors: AA
authors: Bonab
authors: Alan J
authors: AJ
authors: Fischman
authors: Steven B
authors: SB
authors: Weise
authors: Darin D
authors: DD
authors: Dougherty
authors: Gretchen J
authors: GJ
authors: Felopulos
authors: Feng C
authors: FC
authors: Zhou
authors: Margaret L
authors: ML
authors: Bauman
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001321:Autistic Disorder / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000378:metabolism*; D001921:Brain / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000378:metabolism; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D005462:Fluorine Radioisotopes; D059907:Functional Neuroimaging / Q000379:methods / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans; D007806:Language Disorders / Q000150:complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D010865:Pilot Projects; D049268:Positron-Emission Tomography / Q000379:methods / Q000523:psychology; D011744:Pyrimidinones; D011869:Radioligand Assay / Q000379:methods / Q000523:psychology; D019275:Radiopharmaceuticals; D044348:Receptors, Serotonin, 5-HT2 / Q000378:metabolism*; D013788:Thalamus / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D005462:Fluorine Radioisotopes; D011744:Pyrimidinones; D019275:Radiopharmaceuticals; D044348:Receptors, Serotonin, 5-HT2; C045359:setoperone