Study Report
Reference
| Citation | Staley, 2006 PubMed |
| Full Info | Staley, J.K., Sanacora, G., Tamagnan, G., Maciejewski, P.K., Malison, R.T., Berman, R.M., Vythilingam, M., Kugaya, A., Baldwin, R.M., Seibyl, J.P. et al. (2006) Sex differences in diencephalon serotonin transporter availability in major depression. Biol Psychiatry, 59, 40-47.
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Study
| Hypothesis or Background |
Major depression is more prevalent in women than men. The present study evaluated if previous findings that demonstrated decreased 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) transporter availability in depressed patients would be confirmed in a larger sample and also evaluated sex differences.
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| Sample Information | depressed (n = 32) and healthy subjects (n = 32), including 16 pairs of women and men |
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| Method Detail | Depressed (n = 32) and healthy subjects (n = 32), including 16 pairs of women and men, participated in an iodine-123-2 beta-carbomethoxy-3beta-(4-iodophenyltropane) ([(123)I]beta-CIT) single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) and a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan. Participants were administered [(123)I]beta-CIT (225.7 +/- 3.7 MBq) and imaged 23.0 +/- 1.6 hours later. Statistical analyses included analysis of variance and a regression analysis of the main and interactive effects of age, sex, and depression. |
| Method Keywords | single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT); magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) |
| Result | Overall, depressed patients demonstrated 12% lower diencephalon and no change in striatal or brainstem [(123)I]beta-CIT uptake. Significant age by sex, sex by depression, and age by sex by depression interactions were noted due to 22% lower diencephalon [(123)I]beta-CIT uptake in depressed women compared with less than a 1% decrease in depressed men. |
| Conclusions | As observed previously, diencephalon 5-HT transporter availability is decreased in depressed patients. However, the decrease appears to be sex-specific and age-dependent. These findings suggest that serotonergic mechanisms mediating depressed mood differ between men and women in an age-dependent manner and may explain why young women respond better to treatment with selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) antidepressants. |
Relationships reported by
Staley, 2006
| Component A Approved Name (Name in Paper) |
Component A Type |
Component B Approved Name (Name in Paper) |
Component B Type |
Statistical Result |
Relationship Description |
Result Category (Positive/Negative)) |
|
Depressed mood (depressed mood)
|
symptoms |
Serotonergic system (serotonergic system) |
neurobiological system |
depressed patients demonstrated 12% lower diencephalon |
These findings suggest that serotonergic mechanisms mediating depressed mood differ between men and women in an age-dependent manner. |
Positive
|
|
MDD
|
syndrome |
Diencephalon (diencephalon) |
brain morphology and function |
12% lower |
Depressed patients demonstrated 12% lower diencephalon [(123)I]beta-CIT uptake. |
Positive
|
|
Diencephalon (diencephalon)
|
brain morphology and function |
Sodium-dependent serotonin transporter (5-HT transporter) |
protein |
|
Diencephalon 5-HT transporter availability is decreased in depressed patients. |
Positive
|
|
MDD
|
syndrome |
Sodium-dependent serotonin transporter (5-HT transporter) |
protein |
|
Diencephalon 5-HT transporter availability is decreased in depressed patients. |
Positive
|
