Research article summary (published 30 Jul 2009):

Aggression is related to frontal serotonin-1A receptor distribution as revealed by PET in healthy subjects.

Full Abstract

OBJECTIVES: Various studies indicate that serotonin regulates impulsivity and the inhibitory control of aggression. Aggression is also known to be modified by sex hormones, which exert influence on serotonergic neurotransmission. The present study aimed to elucidate potential interactions between human aggression, the inhibitory serotonergic 5-HT(1A) receptor, and sex hormones. EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN: Thirty-three healthy volunteers (16 women, aged 26.24 +/- 5.5 yr) completed a validated questionnaire incorporating five dimensions of aggression. Subsequently, all subjects underwent positron emission tomography with the radioligand [carbonyl-(11)C]WAY-100635 to quantify 5-HT(1A) binding potentials (BP(ND)s) in the prefrontal cortex, limbic areas, and midbrain. Also, plasma levels of testosterone, 17beta-estradiol and sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG) were measured. Relations between aggression scores, regional 5-HT(1A) BP(ND)s, and hormone levels were analyzed using correlations, multivariate analyses of variance, and linear regressions. PRINCIPAL OBSERVATIONS: Statistical analyses revealed higher 5-HT(1A) receptor BP(ND)s in subjects exhibiting higher aggression scores in prefrontal (all P < 0.041) and anterior cingulate cortices (P = 0.016). More aggressive subjects were also characterized by lower SHBG levels (P = 0.015). Moreover, higher SHBG levels were associated with lower 5-HT(1A) BP(ND)s in frontal (P = 0.048) and cingulate cortices (all P < 0.013) and in the amygdala (P = 0.03). CONCLUSIONS: The present study provides first-time evidence for a specific interrelation between the 5-HT(1A) receptor distribution, sex hormones, and aggression in humans. Our findings point to a reduced down-stream control due to higher amounts or activities of frontal 5-HT(1A) receptors in more aggressive subjects, which is presumably modulated by sex hormones. (c) 2008 Wiley-Liss, Inc.

Author information

Author/s: Witte, A Veronica (AV); Flöel, Agnes (A); Stein, Patrycja (P); Savli, Markus (M); Mien, Leonhard-Key (LK); Wadsak, Wolfgang (W); Spindelegger, Christoph (C); Moser, Ulrike (U); Fink, Martin (M); Hahn, Andreas (A); Mitterhauser, Markus (M); Kletter, Kurt (K); Kasper, Siegfried (S); Lanzenberger, Rupert (R);

Affiliation: Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria.

Journal and publication information

Publication Type: Journal Article; Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

Journal: Human brain mapping (Hum Brain Mapp), published in United States. (Language: eng)

Reference: 2009-Aug; vol 30 (issue 8) : pp 2558-70

Dates: Created 2009/07/16; Completed 2009/09/28;

PMID: 19086022, status: MEDLINE (last retrieval date: 9/28/2009, IMS Date: )

Sourced from the National Library of Medicine. Abstract text and other information may be subject to copyright.

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MeSH headings (categories)

This article was linked to the MESH Headings shown below.

Adult Aggression - physiology Brain - physiology; radionuclide imaging Brain Mapping Carbon Radioisotopes Estradiol - blood Female Humans Kinetics Magnetic Resonance Imaging

Magnetic Resonance Imaging Male Personality Assessment Piperazines Positron-Emission Tomography Pyridines Questionnaires Receptor, Serotonin, 5-HT1A - metabolism Sex Hormone-Binding Globulin - metabolism Testosterone - blood

Associated Chemicals: Carbon Radioisotopes (0) ; Piperazines (0) ; Pyridines (0) ; Sex Hormone-Binding Globulin (0) ; Receptor, Serotonin, 5-HT1A (112692-38-3) ; WAY 100635 (146714-97-8) ; Estradiol (50-28-2) ; Testosterone (58-22-0)

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