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Serotonin transporter binding in Tourette Syndrome
Kirsten R Müller-Vahl1, Geerd J Meyer, Wolfram H Knapp
1Department of Clinical Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Medical School Hannover, Carl-Neuberg-Str. 1, D-30625 Hannover, Germany. mueller-vahl.kirsten@mh-hannover.de
Neuroscience Letters
|June 7, 2005
Summary
Tourette Syndrome (TS) patients show reduced serotonin transporter (SERT) binding capacity, particularly those with obsessive-compulsive behavior (OCB). This suggests a potential role for the serotonergic system in TS pathophysiology and its comorbidities.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Psychiatry
- Radiology
Background:
- The dopaminergic system is implicated in Tourette Syndrome (TS) pathophysiology.
- The role of other neurotransmitter systems, like the serotonergic system, in TS remains less understood.
- Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), a common comorbidity in TS, is thought to involve the serotonergic system.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate serotonin transporter (SERT) binding capacity in patients with Tourette Syndrome (TS).
- To explore the relationship between SERT binding, obsessive-compulsive behavior (OCB), and motor tics in TS.
- To compare SERT binding capacity in TS patients and healthy controls and examine age-related changes.
Main Methods:
- Utilized [I-123]2[beta]-carbomethoxy-3[beta]-(4-iodophenyl)tropane ([123I]beta-CIT) and single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT).
- Assessed SERT binding capacity in 12 TS patients and 16 age-matched healthy controls.
- Analyzed data considering medication status (serotonin reuptake inhibitors - SSRI) and correlated findings with OCB and tic severity.
Main Results:
- TS patients not on SSRI medication showed significantly reduced SERT binding capacity compared to healthy controls (2.8 vs. 3.2, p=0.003).
- SSRI treatment led to a significant reduction in SERT availability.
- In SSRI-free TS patients, trends indicated a negative correlation between SERT binding and OCB severity (r=-0.78, p=0.023) and motor tics (r=-0.68, p=0.064).
- An age-related decline in SERT binding was observed in healthy controls but not in the TS group.
Conclusions:
- The findings support previous research suggesting an impairment of the serotonergic system in Tourette Syndrome.
- Reduced SERT binding capacity may be associated with the severity of comorbid obsessive-compulsive behavior in TS.
- The study highlights potential differences in age-related changes in SERT binding between TS patients and healthy individuals.