TY - JOUR
T1 - Prefrontal serotonin transporter availability is positively associated with the cortisol awakening response
AU - Frokjaer, Vibe Gedsoe
AU - Erritzoe, David
AU - Holst, Klaus Kähler
AU - Jensen, Peter Steen
AU - Rasmussen, Peter Mondrup
AU - Fisher, Patrick MacDonald
AU - Baaré, William
AU - Madsen, Kathrine Skak
AU - Madsen, Jacob
AU - Svarer, Claus
AU - Knudsen, Gitte Moos
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×CAR). Conclusion: prefrontal SERT binding is positively associated with cortisol response to awakening. We speculate that in mentally healthy individuals prefrontal serotonergic neurotransmission may exert an inhibitory control on the cortisol awakening response.
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×CAR). Conclusion: prefrontal SERT binding is positively associated with cortisol response to awakening. We speculate that in mentally healthy individuals prefrontal serotonergic neurotransmission may exert an inhibitory control on the cortisol awakening response.
KW - 5-HTT
KW - 5-HTTLPR
KW - PET
KW - DASB
KW - Glucocorticoid
KW - Stress
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 -