Higher postmortem prefrontal 5-HT2A receptor binding correlates with lifetime aggression in suicide

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Psychiatry
• Neurochemistry

Background:

• Altered serotonin function is linked to aggressive and suicidal behaviors.
• Postmortem studies show serotonergic alterations in suicide subjects.
• The relationship between aggression and the serotonin system in suicide has not been fully explored.

Purpose of the Study:

• To measure 5-hydroxytryptamine 2A (5-HT(2A)) receptor binding in the prefrontal cortex of suicide and nonsuicide subjects.
• To investigate the association between 5-HT(2A) receptor binding, lifetime aggression, and suicide.

Main Methods:

• Quantified 5-HT(2A) receptor binding using [(3)H] ketanserin autoradiography in prefrontal cortex samples.
• Assessed the relationship between receptor binding and lifetime aggression (Brown-Goodwin Aggression History Scale).
• Controlled for age and sex in statistical analyses.

Main Results:

• In suicide subjects, lifetime aggression scores positively correlated with [(3)H] ketanserin binding across all examined prefrontal Brodmann areas.
• This positive correlation between aggression and [(3)H] ketanserin binding was not found in nonsuicide subjects.
• No significant differences in aggression scores or [(3)H] ketanserin binding were observed between suicide and nonsuicide groups.

Conclusions:

• The aggression-related 5-HT(2A) receptor binding pattern in suicide subjects suggests distinct receptor regulation.
• These findings may indicate proaggressive changes in the brains of individuals who die by suicide.
• Differences in 5-HT(2A) receptor regulation could be a factor related to suicidal behavior.