title: Effects of a short-term reduction in brain serotonin synthesis on the availability of the soluble leptin receptor in healthy women.
abstract: Serotonin (5-HT) and the hormone leptin have been linked to the underlying neurobiology of appetite regulation with evidence coming from animal and cellular research, but direct evidence linking these two pathways in humans is lacking. We examined the effects of reduced brain 5-HT synthesis due to acute tryptophan depletion (ATD) on levels of soluble leptin receptor (sOb-R), the main high-affinity leptin binding protein, in healthy adults using an exploratory approach. Women, but not men, showed reduced sOb-R concentrations after ATD administration. With females showing reduced baseline levels of central 5-HT synthesis compared to males diminished brain 5-HT synthesis affected the leptin axis through the sOb-R in females, thereby potentially influencing their vulnerability to dysfunctional appetite regulation and co-morbid mood symptoms.
authors.affiliation: Clinic for Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Psychosomatics and Psychotherapy, RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, Germany, fzepf@ukaachen.de.
authors.forename: F D
authors.initials: FD
authors.lastname: Zepf
authors.forename: V L S
authors.initials: VL
authors.lastname: Dingerkus
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Helmbold
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bubenzer-Busch
authors.forename: C S
authors.initials: CS
authors.lastname: Biskup
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Herpertz-Dahlmann
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Schaab
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kratzsch
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Eisert
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Rink
authors.forename: U
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Hagenah
authors.forename: T J
authors.initials: TJ
authors.lastname: Gaber
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D001921:Brain / Q000378:metabolism*; D015331:Cohort Studies; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D005526:Food, Formulated; D006801:Humans; D020738:Leptin / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D054411:Receptors, Leptin / Q000378:metabolism*; D012701:Serotonin / Q000378:metabolism*; D013997:Time Factors; D014364:Tryptophan / Q000172:deficiency; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D020738:Leptin; D054411:Receptors, Leptin; D012701:Serotonin; D014364:Tryptophan