In vivo visualization of serotonin transporters in the human brain during fluoxetine treatment

Eur Neuropsychopharmacol. 1999 Jan;9(1-2):177-9. doi: 10.1016/s0924-977x(98)00013-3.

Abstract

Beta-CIT can be used as a tracer for SPECT to visualize serotonin transporters in the human brain. We present a case of bulimia nervosa and major depressive disorder, who had been treated with up to 60 mg/d fluoxetine for several weeks. Four hours after injection of the tracer more than 40% of serotonin transporters were blocked. To our knowledge, this is the first direct documentation of the pharmacodynamic action of fluoxetine in the human brain in vivo.

Publication types

  • Case Reports
  • Clinical Trial

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Aged
  • Antidepressive Agents, Second-Generation / pharmacology*
  • Antidepressive Agents, Second-Generation / therapeutic use
  • Brain / diagnostic imaging*
  • Brain Chemistry / drug effects*
  • Bulimia / diagnostic imaging
  • Bulimia / drug therapy
  • Carrier Proteins / metabolism*
  • Depressive Disorder / diagnostic imaging
  • Depressive Disorder / drug therapy
  • Female
  • Fluoxetine / pharmacology*
  • Fluoxetine / therapeutic use
  • Humans
  • Image Processing, Computer-Assisted
  • Male
  • Membrane Glycoproteins / metabolism*
  • Membrane Transport Proteins*
  • Middle Aged
  • Nerve Tissue Proteins / metabolism*
  • Serotonin Plasma Membrane Transport Proteins
  • Tomography, Emission-Computed, Single-Photon

Substances

  • Antidepressive Agents, Second-Generation
  • Carrier Proteins
  • Membrane Glycoproteins
  • Membrane Transport Proteins
  • Nerve Tissue Proteins
  • SLC6A4 protein, human
  • Serotonin Plasma Membrane Transport Proteins
  • Fluoxetine