Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 11, 2025
08:49
Rapid In Situ Hybridization using Oligonucleotide Probes on Paraformaldehyde-prefixed Brain of Rats with Serotonin Syndrome
Published on: September 23, 2015
8.9K
Serotonin 4 Receptor Brain Binding in Major Depressive Disorder and Association With Memory Dysfunction
Kristin Köhler-Forsberg1,2,3, Vibeke H Dam1,2, Brice Ozenne1,4
1Neurobiology Research Unit, Copenhagen University Hospital Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen, Denmark.
JAMA Psychiatry
|February 8, 2023
Summary
Major depressive disorder (MDD) is linked to lower serotonin 4 (5-HT4) receptor binding in the brain. This reduced binding correlates with memory problems, suggesting 5-HT4 receptors as a potential treatment target.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Psychiatry
- Pharmacology
Background:
- The cerebral serotonin 4 (5-HT4) receptor is a potential therapeutic target for major depressive disorder (MDD).
- Stimulation of the 5-HT4 receptor may improve cognitive functions, including learning and memory.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare cerebral 5-HT4 receptor binding in patients with untreated MDD versus healthy controls.
- To investigate the relationship between 5-HT4 receptor binding and cognitive performance in individuals with MDD.
Main Methods:
- A case-control study utilizing baseline data from the NeuroPharm clinical depression trial.
- Positron emission tomography (PET) with [11C]SB207145 was used to quantify brain 5-HT4 receptor binding in 90 MDD patients and 91 healthy controls.
- Cognitive testing, including verbal memory, was administered to MDD patients.
Main Results:
- Patients with MDD exhibited significantly lower cerebral 5-HT4 receptor binding compared to healthy controls (-7.0%, P = .002).
- A positive correlation was observed between cerebral 5-HT4 receptor binding and verbal memory performance in patients with MDD (r = 0.29, P = .02).
Conclusions:
- Cerebral 5-HT4 receptor binding is reduced in patients with untreated MDD.
- Lower 5-HT4 receptor availability is associated with memory deficits in MDD.
- The cerebral 5-HT4 receptor represents a promising therapeutic target for addressing memory dysfunction in MDD.
Related Concept Videos
01:21G-protein Coupled Receptors
120.7K
G-protein coupled receptors are ligand binding receptors that indirectly affect changes in the cell. The actual receptor is a single polypeptide that transverses the cell membrane seven times creating intracellular and extracellular loops. The extracellular loops create a ligand specific pocket which binds to neurotransmitters or hormones. The intracellular loops holds onto the G-protein.
120.7K
01:23Role of Neurotransmitters in Memory
710
Neurotransmitters are integral to the brain's communication system, enabling neurons to transmit signals across synapses. This chemical exchange underpins various cognitive functions, including memory processes. The role of neurotransmitters in memory is multifaceted, influencing the encoding, consolidation, and retrieval of memories through their action on different neural circuits.
Glutamate and Synaptic Plasticity
Glutamate, the brain's main excitatory neurotransmitter, is...
Glutamate and Synaptic Plasticity
Glutamate, the brain's main excitatory neurotransmitter, is...
710
01:23Antidepressant Drugs: MAOIs and Other Agents
294
Atypical antidepressants, including bupropion (Wellbutrin), mirtazapine (Remeron), nefazodone (Serzone), trazodone (Desyrel), and vilazodone (Viibryd), offer unique mechanisms of action. Bupropion weakly inhibits dopamine and norepinephrine reuptake, aiding depression treatment and smoking cessation, with a low risk of sexual dysfunction. Mirtazapine enhances serotonin and norepinephrine neurotransmission, leading to sedation, increased appetite, and weight gain. As a result, it helps treat...
294
01:28Antidepressant Drugs: Tricyclics, SSRIs, and SNRIs
498
Tricyclic Antidepressants (TCAs), including Desipramine (Norpramin), Imipramine (Tofranil), Clomipramine (Anafranil), and Amitriptyline (Elavil), inhibit serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake and also block other receptors. They are used for depression, pain conditions, and insomnia. Common adverse effects include anticholinergic effects, sedation, orthostatic hypotension, and weight gain. They have a narrow therapeutic window and so require plasma-level monitoring. Abrupt discontinuation can...
498
01:03Long-term Depression
2.6K
Long-term depression, or LTD, is one of the ways by which synaptic plasticity—changes in the strength of chemical synapses—can occur in the brain. LTD is the process of synaptic weakening that occurs over time between pre and postsynaptic neuronal connections. The synaptic weakening of LTD works in opposition to synaptic strengthening by long-term potentiation (LTP) and together are the main mechanisms that underlie learning and memory.
Calcium Ion Concentration Mechanism
If over...
Calcium Ion Concentration Mechanism
If over...
2.6K
01:23Drugs Affecting GI Tract Motility: Serotonin Receptor Agonists
357
Serotonin, a crucial neurotransmitter synthesized by enterochromaffin cells, plays a cardinal role in regulating gastrointestinal (GI) motility. With over 90% of the body's total serotonin in the GI tract, its influence on digestive processes is profound. Serotonin is swiftly released upon various stimuli, such as food boluses or certain drugs, triggering intrinsic sensory neurons in the myenteric plexus and extrinsic vagal and spinal sensory neurons. This leads to the activation of the...
357