Probing the association between dexamethasone-induced cortisol suppression and serotonin transporter availability among drug-free patients with major depressive disorder--a small-sample SPECT study with [¹²³I]ADAM

Psychoneuroendocrinology. 2013 Nov;38(11):2805-9. doi: 10.1016/j.psyneuen.2013.06.001. Epub 2013 Jun 28.

Abstract

The association between hypothalamo-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis function and the serotonergic system could be involved in the mechanism of depression. However, neuroimaging evidence is scarce. The aim of the present study was to probe the association between dexamethasone suppression test response and serotonin transporter (SERT) availability in drug-free patients with major depressive disorder (MDD). Seventeen MDD patients (five males and twelve females) were recruited. SPECT with [(123)I] ADAM was used to measure the midbrain SERT availability, and HPA axis function was measured by the dexamethasone suppression test (DST). The association was significant when considering all participants (ρ=0.69, p=0.002). This association may have clinical implications for the treatment of MDD.

Keywords: Dexamethasone suppression test; Major depressive disorder; Serotonin transporter.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Cinanserin / analogs & derivatives
  • Depressive Disorder, Major / diagnostic imaging
  • Depressive Disorder, Major / metabolism*
  • Dexamethasone
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Hydrocortisone / blood*
  • Male
  • Mesencephalon / diagnostic imaging
  • Mesencephalon / metabolism
  • Pituitary-Adrenal Function Tests
  • Serotonin Plasma Membrane Transport Proteins / metabolism*
  • Tomography, Emission-Computed, Single-Photon

Substances

  • 2-((2-((dimethylamino)methyl)phenyl)thio)-5-iodophenylamine
  • Serotonin Plasma Membrane Transport Proteins
  • Dexamethasone
  • Cinanserin
  • Hydrocortisone