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Studies in vitro suggest that the expression of the serotonin transporter (5-HTT) is regulated by polymorphic variation in the promoter region of the 5-HTT gene (5-HTTLPR); however, results from human brain imaging studies examining the relation between 5-HTT genotype and 5-HTT radioligand binding in vivo have been inconsistent. This inconsistency could reflect small participant numbers or the use of sub-optimal radiotracer for measuring the 5-HTT. We used positron emission tomography in conjunction with the selective 5-HTT ligand [(11)C] DASB to examine the availability of the 5-HTT in seven brain regions in 63 healthy European caucasian volunteers who were genotyped for short (S) and long (L) variants (SLC6A4 and rs25531) of the 5-HTTLPR. [(11)C] DASB binding potential was not influenced by the allelic status of participants whether classified on a biallelic or triallelic basis in any of the regions studied. Our PET findings, in a relatively large sample with a near optimal radiotracer, suggest that 5-HTTLPR polymorphic variation does not affect the availability of 5-HTT to [(11)C] DASB binding in adult human brain. The reported impact of 5-HTTLPR polymorphic variation on emotional processing and vulnerability to depression are more likely therefore to be expressed through effects exerted during neurodevelopment.

Original publication

DOI

10.1016/j.neuroimage.2010.04.032

Type

Journal article

Journal

Neuroimage

Publication Date

01/08/2010

Volume

52

Pages

50 - 54

Keywords

Adult, Alleles, Benzylamines, Brain, Brain Mapping, Carbon Radioisotopes, Cross-Sectional Studies, Europe, European Continental Ancestry Group, Humans, INDEL Mutation, Male, Polymorphism, Genetic, Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide, Positron-Emission Tomography, Promoter Regions, Genetic, Sequence Analysis, DNA, Serotonin Plasma Membrane Transport Proteins