RT Journal Article SR Electronic T1 123I-ADAM Binding to Serotonin Transporters in Patients with Major Depression and Healthy Controls: A Preliminary Study JF Journal of Nuclear Medicine JO J Nucl Med FD Society of Nuclear Medicine SP 973 OP 977 VO 46 IS 6 A1 Andrew B. Newberg A1 Jay D. Amsterdam A1 Nancy Wintering A1 Karl Ploessl A1 Randel L. Swanson A1 Justine Shults A1 Abass Alavi YR 2005 UL http://jnm.snmjournals.org/content/46/6/973.abstract AB The serotonergic system may play an important role in the pathophysiology of major depressive disorder (MDD). Few imaging studies have examined serotonin transporter (SERT) binding in patients with MDD. We hypothesized that SERT binding activity may be altered in patients with MDD. This study compared SERT binding in patients with MDD with that in healthy controls. Methods: We studied SERT activity in 7 patients (22–50 y old) with moderate to severe MDD and 6 healthy controls (24–56 y old) using 123I-labeled 2-((2-((dimethylamino)methyl) phenyl)thio)-5-iodophenylamine (ADAM) and SPECT brain imaging. Subjects underwent SPECT 4 h after intravenous administration of 185 MBq (5 mCi) of 123I-ADAM. Images were reconstructed in the axial plane, and region-of-interest demarcations were placed on the midbrain, medial temporal region, and basal ganglia region. Results: 123I-ADAM binding to SERT in the midbrain was significantly lower (P = 0.01) in MDD patients (1.81 ± 0.07) than in controls (1.95 ± 0.13). Age-adjusted 123I-ADAM binding in the midbrain correlated significantly with scores on the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (r = 0.82; P = 0.02). A significant negative correlation was observed between 123I-ADAM SERT binding in the midbrain and age in the healthy control group (r = 0.98; P = 0.0002). SERT binding in the basal ganglia or medial temporal regions of interest did not significantly differ between groups. Conclusion: The findings from this preliminary study suggest the possibility of decreased SERT binding in the midbrain region of patients with MDD, with the degree of decrease correlating with the severity of depressive symptoms. There also appears to be an age-related decline in midbrain 123I-ADAM SERT binding in healthy subjects.