Distribution volume ratio of serotonin and dopamine transporters in euthymic patients with a history of major depression — a dual-isotope SPECT study

• Published in: Psychiatry research. Neuroimaging Vol. 184; no. 3; pp. 157 - 161
• Main Authors: Hsieh, Pei Chun, Lee, I Hui, Yeh, Tzung Lieh, Chen, Kao Chin, Huang, Hui Chun, Chen, Po See, Yang, Yen Kuang, Yao, Wei Jen, Lu, Ru-Band, Chiu, Nan Tsing
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Ireland Elsevier Ireland Ltd 30.12.2010
• Subjects: Adult; Brain - diagnostic imaging; Brain - metabolism; Brain Mapping; Case-Control Studies; Cinanserin - analogs & derivatives; Depressive Disorder, Major - classification; Depressive Disorder, Major - diagnostic imaging; Depressive Disorder, Major - metabolism; Depressive Disorder, Major - pathology; Dopamine Plasma Membrane Transport Proteins - metabolism; Dopamine transporter; Euthymic state; Female; Humans; Major depression; Male; Middle Aged; Organotechnetium Compounds; Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; Psychiatry; Radiology; Radiopharmaceuticals; Serotonin Plasma Membrane Transport Proteins - metabolism; Serotonin transporter; Single photon emission computed tomography; Tomography, Emission-Computed, Single-Photon - methods; Tropanes; Dopamine transporter; Serotonin transporter; Major depression; Single photon emission computed tomography; Euthymic state
• ISSN: 0925-4927; 1872-7506
• DOI: 10.1016/j.pscychresns.2010.09.004

Abstract Serotonin transporter (SERT) and dopamine transporter (DAT) levels differ in patients with major depression who are in a depressed state in comparison with healthy controls. The aim of this study was to examine the distribution volume ratios (DVRs) of SERT and DAT in drug-free and euthymic patients with a history of major depression. Subjects comprised 13 patients with a history of major depression and 26 sex- and age-matched healthy controls. The euthymic state of depression was defined as a score of 7 or less on the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale. The DVRs of SERT and DAT were approximated using SPECT, with [123 I] 2-((2-((dimethylamino)methyl)phenyl)thio)-5-iodophenylamine (ADAM) and [99m Tc] TRODAT-1 as the ligands, respectively. There were no significant differences in the DVRs of SERT or DAT between healthy subjects and euthymic patients with a history of major depression; hence, the SERT and DAT DVRs may not therefore be trait markers for patients with major depression, which helps us to understand more about the pathophysiology of depression.