OBJECTIVE: The cause of autistic spectrum disorder (i.e., autism and Asperger's syndrome) is unknown. The serotonergic (5-HT) system may be especially implicated. However, cortical 5-HT2A receptor density in adults with the disorder has not been examined, to the authors' knowledge. METHOD: The authors investigated cortical 5-HT2A receptor binding in eight adults with Asperger's syndrome and in 10 healthy comparison subjects with single photon emission computed tomography and the selective 5-HT2A receptor ligand 123I iodinated 4-amino-N-[1-[3-(4-fluorophenoxy)propyl]-4-methyl-4-piperidinyl]-5-iodo-2-methoxybenzamide (123I-5-I-R91150). RESULTS: People with Asperger's syndrome had a significant reduction in cortical 5-HT2A receptor binding in the total, anterior, and posterior cingulate; bilaterally in the frontal and superior temporal lobes; and in the left parietal lobe. Also, reduced receptor binding was significantly related to abnormal social communication. CONCLUSIONS: The authors' findings suggest that adults with Asperger's syndrome have abnormalities in cortical 5-HT2A receptor density and that this deficit may underlie some clinical symptoms.
OBJECTIVE: The cause of autistic spectrum disorder (i.e., autism and Asperger's syndrome) is unknown. The serotonergic (5-HT) system may be especially implicated. However, cortical 5-HT2A receptor density in adults with the disorder has not been examined, to the authors' knowledge. METHOD: The authors investigated cortical 5-HT2A receptor binding in eight adults with Asperger's syndrome and in 10 healthy comparison subjects with single photon emission computed tomography and the selective 5-HT2A receptor ligand 123I iodinated 4-amino-N-[1-[3-(4-fluorophenoxy)propyl]-4-methyl-4-piperidinyl]-5-iodo-2-methoxybenzamide (123I-5-I-R91150). RESULTS:People with Asperger's syndrome had a significant reduction in cortical 5-HT2A receptor binding in the total, anterior, and posterior cingulate; bilaterally in the frontal and superior temporal lobes; and in the left parietal lobe. Also, reduced receptor binding was significantly related to abnormal social communication. CONCLUSIONS: The authors' findings suggest that adults with Asperger's syndrome have abnormalities in cortical 5-HT2A receptor density and that this deficit may underlie some clinical symptoms.
Authors: Ragy R Girgis; Mark Slifstein; Xiaoyan Xu; W Gordon Frankle; Evdokia Anagnostou; Stacey Wasserman; Lauren Pepa; Alexander Kolevzon; Anissa Abi-Dargham; Marc Laruelle; Eric Hollander Journal: Psychiatry Res Date: 2011-11-12 Impact factor: 3.222
Authors: Elizabeth Hammock; Jeremy Veenstra-VanderWeele; Zhongyu Yan; Travis M Kerr; Marianna Morris; George M Anderson; C Sue Carter; Edwin H Cook; Suma Jacob Journal: J Am Acad Child Adolesc Psychiatry Date: 2012-05-26 Impact factor: 8.829
Authors: Elizabeth Aaron; Alicia Montgomery; Xinguo Ren; Stephen Guter; George Anderson; Ana M D Carneiro; Suma Jacob; Matthew Mosconi; Ghanshyam N Pandey; Edwin Cook; Jeremy Veenstra-VanderWeele Journal: J Autism Dev Disord Date: 2019-06
Authors: Brittany Peters; Kent C Williams; Phillip Gorrindo; Daniel Rosenberg; Evon Batey Lee; Pat Levitt; Jeremy Veenstra-VanderWeele Journal: J Autism Dev Disord Date: 2014-06
Authors: Jeremy Veenstra-Vanderweele; Tammy N Jessen; Brent J Thompson; Michelle Carter; Harish C Prasad; Jennifer A Steiner; James S Sutcliffe; Randy D Blakely Journal: J Neurodev Disord Date: 2009-06 Impact factor: 4.025