Prefrontal serotonin transporter availability is positively associated with the cortisol awakening response

TY - JOUR

T1 - Prefrontal serotonin transporter availability is positively associated with the cortisol awakening response

AU - Frokjaer, VG

AU - Erritzoe, D

AU - Holst, KK

AU - Jensen, PS

AU - Rasmussen, PM

AU - Fisher, PM

AU - Baaré, W

AU - Madsen, KS

AU - Madsen, J

AU - Svarer, C

AU - Knudsen, GM

PY - 2013

Y1 - 2013

N2 - Stress sensitivity and serotonergic neurotransmission interact, e.g. individuals carrying the low-expressing variants (S and LG) of the 5-HTTLPR promoter polymorphism of the serotonin transporter (SERT) gene are at higher risk for developing mood disorders when exposed to severe stress and display higher cortisol responses when exposed to psychosocial stressors relative to high expressing 5-HTTLPR variants. However, it is not clear how the relation between SERT and cortisol output is reflected in the adult brain. We investigated the relation between cortisol response to awakening (CAR) and SERT binding in brain regions considered relevant to modify the cortisol awakening response. Methods: thirty-two healthy volunteers underwent in vivo SERT imaging with [11C]DASB-Positron Emission Tomography (PET), genotyping, and performed home-sampling of saliva to assess CAR. Results: CAR, defined as the area under curve with respect to increase from baseline, was positively coupled to prefrontal SERT binding (p=0.02), independent of adjustment for 5-HTTLPR genotype. Although S- and LG-allele carriers tended to show a larger CAR (p=0.07) than LA homozygous, 5-HTTLPR genotype did not modify the coupling between CAR and prefrontal SERT binding as tested by an interaction analysis (genotype x CAR). Conclusion: prefrontal SERT binding is.

AB - Stress sensitivity and serotonergic neurotransmission interact, e.g. individuals carrying the low-expressing variants (S and LG) of the 5-HTTLPR promoter polymorphism of the serotonin transporter (SERT) gene are at higher risk for developing mood disorders when exposed to severe stress and display higher cortisol responses when exposed to psychosocial stressors relative to high expressing 5-HTTLPR variants. However, it is not clear how the relation between SERT and cortisol output is reflected in the adult brain. We investigated the relation between cortisol response to awakening (CAR) and SERT binding in brain regions considered relevant to modify the cortisol awakening response. Methods: thirty-two healthy volunteers underwent in vivo SERT imaging with [11C]DASB-Positron Emission Tomography (PET), genotyping, and performed home-sampling of saliva to assess CAR. Results: CAR, defined as the area under curve with respect to increase from baseline, was positively coupled to prefrontal SERT binding (p=0.02), independent of adjustment for 5-HTTLPR genotype. Although S- and LG-allele carriers tended to show a larger CAR (p=0.07) than LA homozygous, 5-HTTLPR genotype did not modify the coupling between CAR and prefrontal SERT binding as tested by an interaction analysis (genotype x CAR). Conclusion: prefrontal SERT binding is.

U2 - 10.1016/j.euroneuro.2012.05.013

DO - 10.1016/j.euroneuro.2012.05.013

M3 - Journal article

C2 - 22732516

SN - 0924-977X

VL - 23

SP - 285

EP - 294

JO - European Neuropsychopharmacology

JF - European Neuropsychopharmacology

IS - 4

ER -