Background: Several lines of studies have suggested the involvement of serotonin transporter (5-HTT) in the pathophysiology of mood disorders. The aim of this study was to examine whether 5-HTT binding was altered in patients with mood disorders using positron emission tomography (PET).
Methods: Thirteen antidepressant-naive or -free patients with mood disorders and 21 age-matched healthy control subjects participated in this study. The patients consisted of 7 with major depressive disorder (MDD) and 6 with bipolar disorder (BD). Positron emission tomography scans were performed using a selective ligand for 5-HTT, [11C](+)McN5652. The uptake was quantified in the thalamus and midbrain by graphical method with reference tissue, and binding potential (BP) was used for the index of 5-HTT binding.
Results: Binding potential in the thalamus was significantly increased in patients with mood disorders as compared to control subjects, whereas BP in the midbrain did not differ between the groups. Subgroup comparison showed that MDD patients had significantly higher BP in the thalamus compared to control subjects. Binding potential of the thalamus was higher by approximately 22% in the combined patients and 23% in MDD patients relative to control subjects.
Conclusions: These findings may suggest the possibility of altered 5-HTT in patients with mood disorders. Functional abnormality in the thalamus may be involved in the pathophysiology of mood disorders.