BACKGROUND: Progesterone (P) is thought to influence mood and affective states. Alterations of the inhibitory serotonin-1A (5-HT(1A)) receptor distribution are associated with depression and anxiety. This study evaluates the influence of plasma P levels on the 5-HT(1A) receptor binding in healthy male subjects. METHODS: Molecular neuroimaging of the 5-HT(1A) receptor distribution using positron emission tomography and hormone assays for total plasma P and cortisol were done in a sample of 18 healthy men. RESULTS: Plasma P levels explained up to 65% of the variability in 5-HT(1A) receptor binding in limbic regions including the amygdala, orbitofrontal cortex and retrosplenial cortex. When controlling for cortisol in the model, there was an expected decline in explained variances of 5-HT(1A) binding attributed to P. CONCLUSIONS: The results of this study provide further support for the effect of P on 5-HT(1A) receptor expression and raise the possibility that P mediates the vulnerability to mood disorders by affecting the serotonergic system.
BACKGROUND:Progesterone (P) is thought to influence mood and affective states. Alterations of the inhibitory serotonin-1A (5-HT(1A)) receptor distribution are associated with depression and anxiety. This study evaluates the influence of plasma P levels on the 5-HT(1A) receptor binding in healthy male subjects. METHODS: Molecular neuroimaging of the 5-HT(1A) receptor distribution using positron emission tomography and hormone assays for total plasma P and cortisol were done in a sample of 18 healthy men. RESULTS: Plasma P levels explained up to 65% of the variability in 5-HT(1A) receptor binding in limbic regions including the amygdala, orbitofrontal cortex and retrosplenial cortex. When controlling for cortisol in the model, there was an expected decline in explained variances of 5-HT(1A) binding attributed to P. CONCLUSIONS: The results of this study provide further support for the effect of P on 5-HT(1A) receptor expression and raise the possibility that P mediates the vulnerability to mood disorders by affecting the serotonergic system.
Authors: Ronald Sladky; Pia Baldinger; Georg S Kranz; Jasmin Tröstl; Anna Höflich; Rupert Lanzenberger; Ewald Moser; Christian Windischberger Journal: Eur J Radiol Date: 2011-12-03 Impact factor: 3.528
Authors: Georg S Kranz; Wolfgang Wadsak; Ulrike Kaufmann; Markus Savli; Pia Baldinger; Gregor Gryglewski; Daniela Haeusler; Marie Spies; Markus Mitterhauser; Siegfried Kasper; Rupert Lanzenberger Journal: Biol Psychiatry Date: 2014-09-23 Impact factor: 13.382
Authors: Alexander Kautzky; Gregory M James; Cecile Philippe; Pia Baldinger-Melich; Christoph Kraus; Georg S Kranz; Thomas Vanicek; Gregor Gryglewski; Annette M Hartmann; Andreas Hahn; Wolfgang Wadsak; Markus Mitterhauser; Dan Rujescu; Siegfried Kasper; Rupert Lanzenberger Journal: Transl Psychiatry Date: 2019-01-16 Impact factor: 6.222