title: Serotonin metabolites in the cerebrospinal fluid in sudden infant death syndrome.
abstract: Forensic biomarkers are needed in sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) to help identify this group among other sudden unexpected deaths in infancy. Previously, we reported multiple serotonergic (5-HT) abnormalities in nuclei of the medulla oblongata that help mediate protective responses to homeostatic stressors. As a first step toward their assessment as forensic biomarkers of medullary pathology, here we test the hypothesis that 5-HT-related measures are abnormal in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) of SIDS infants compared with those of autopsy controls. Levels of CSF 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid (5-HIAA) and homovanillic acid (HVA), the degradative products of 5-HT and dopamine, respectively, were measured by high-performance liquid chromatography in 52 SIDS and 29 non-SIDS autopsy cases. Tryptophan (Trp) and tyrosine (Tyr), the substrates of 5-HT and dopamine, respectively, were also measured. There were no significant differences in 5-HIAA, Trp, HVA, or Tyr levels between the SIDS and non-SIDS groups. These data preclude the use of 5-HIAA, HVA, Trp, or Tyr measurements as CSF autopsy biomarkers of 5-HT medullary pathology in infants who have died suddenly and unexpectedly. They do, however, provide important information about monoaminergic measurements in human CSF at autopsy and their developmental profile in infancy that is applicable to multiple pediatric disorders beyond SIDS.
authors.affiliation: From the Department of Pathology, Boston Children's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts (IJR, HT, DSP, RLH, KGB, HCK); Faculty of Medicine, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway (IJR); Department of Pathology, Rady Children's Hospital, San Diego, California (EAH, HFK); Medical Neurogenetics, Atlanta, Georgia (KH); New England Research Institutes, Watertown, Massachusetts (BJH); and San Diego County Medical Examiner's Office, San Diego, California (OM).
authors.forename: Ingvar J
authors.initials: IJ
authors.lastname: Rognum
authors.forename: Hoa
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Tran
authors.forename: Elisabeth A
authors.initials: EA
authors.lastname: Haas
authors.forename: Keith
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Hyland
authors.forename: David S
authors.initials: DS
authors.lastname: Paterson
authors.forename: Robin L
authors.initials: RL
authors.lastname: Haynes
authors.forename: Kevin G
authors.initials: KG
authors.lastname: Broadbelt
authors.forename: Brian J
authors.initials: BJ
authors.lastname: Harty
authors.forename: Othon
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Mena
authors.forename: Henry F
authors.initials: HF
authors.lastname: Krous
authors.forename: Hannah C
authors.initials: HC
authors.lastname: Kinney
mesh_terms: D000704:Analysis of Variance; D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; D016208:Databases, Factual / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D006719:Homovanillic Acid / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid; D006801:Humans; D006897:Hydroxyindoleacetic Acid / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid*; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D012701:Serotonin / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid*; D013398:Sudden Infant Death / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid* / Q000473:pathology; D014364:Tryptophan / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid; D014443:Tyrosine / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid
chemical_list: D012701:Serotonin; D014443:Tyrosine; D006897:Hydroxyindoleacetic Acid; D014364:Tryptophan; D006719:Homovanillic Acid