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Smoking-associated changes in the serotonergic systems of discrete regions of human brain

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Abstract

This paper describes the results of a postmortem study of the effects of tobacco smoking on the concentrations of 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) and 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid (5-HIAA) as well as the binding of [3H]-8-hydroxy-(di-n-propylamino)-tetralin ([3H]-8-OH-DPAT) and [3H]-ketanserin in six discrete regions of human brain. Smoking was associated with significant decreases in the concentrations of 5-HIAA in the hippocampal neocortex (P < 0.001), hippocampal formation (P < 0.05) and the median raphe nuclei (P < 0.05). The 5-HT level of the hippocampal formation was also significantly reduced in smokers (P < 0.05). These changes were accompanied by significant increases in the binding of [3H]-8-OH-DPAT in the hippocampal neocortex (P < 0.01) and hippocampal formation (P < 0.05). [3H]-Ketanserin binding in the brain regions studied was unaffected by smoking. It is concluded that smoking is associated with a regionally selective decrease in the activity of the serotonergic system of the human hippocampus.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Pharmacology and Clinical Pharmacology, University Medical School Ninewells Hospital, DD1 9SY, Dundee, Scotland, UK

    Maureen E. M. Benwell & David J. K. Balfour

  2. Department of Pathology, University Medical School Ninewells Hospital, DD1 9SY, Dundee, Scotland, UK

    John M. Anderson

Authors
  1. Maureen E. M. Benwell
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  2. David J. K. Balfour
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  3. John M. Anderson
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Benwell, M.E.M., Balfour, D.J.K. & Anderson, J.M. Smoking-associated changes in the serotonergic systems of discrete regions of human brain. Psychopharmacology 102, 68–72 (1990). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02245746

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02245746

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