Background
Many studies have found disturbances of serotonin (5-HT) activity in anorexia nervosa
(AN). Because little is known about 5-HT receptor function in AN, positron emission
tomography (PET) imaging with 5-HT receptor-specific radioligands was used to characterize
5-HT1A and 5-HT2A receptors.
Methods
Fifteen women ill with AN (ILL AN) were compared with 29 healthy control women (CW);
PET and [11C]WAY100635 were used to assess binding potential (BP) of the 5-HT1A receptor,
and [18F]altanserin was used to assess postsynaptic 5-HT2A receptor BP. [15O] water
and PET were used to assess cerebral blood flow.
Results
The ILL AN women had a highly significant (30%–70%) increase in [11C]WAY100635 BP
in prefrontal and lateral orbital frontal regions, mesial and lateral temporal lobes,
parietal cortex, and dorsal raphe nuclei compared with CW. The [18F]altanserin BP
was normal in ILL AN but was positively and significantly related to harm avoidance
in suprapragenual cingulate, frontal, and parietal regions. Cerebral blood flow was
normal in ILL AN women.
Conclusions
Increased activity of 5-HT1A receptor activity may help explain poor response to 5-HT
medication in ILL AN. This study extends data suggesting that 5-HT function, and,
specifically, the 5-HT2A receptor, is related to anxiety in AN.
Key Words
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Article info
Publication history
Published online: January 22, 2007
Accepted:
July 6,
2006
Received in revised form:
June 23,
2006
Received:
March 9,
2006
Identification
Copyright
© 2007 Society of Biological Psychiatry. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
