NEUROBIOLOGY OF SEASONAL AFFECTIVE DISORDER AND LIGHT THERAPY

尽管反复的研究已经证实，明亮的光线是一种 对于SAD的有效治疗，其作用机制尚不清楚， 造成这种疾病的基本生物异常也是如此。 综合症。有充分的理由相信大脑5-羟色胺能系统 可能参与了这些过程。去年我们报道了SAD 患者的反应异常，伴有夸大的兴奋和兴奋， 5-羟色胺激动剂m-CPP的输注。我们已经跟进了这件事 关于其激素和体温反应的先前报告 患者到这项挑战研究。今年，我们将研究范围扩大到 检验5-羟色胺能传递是一种重要的 通过试图逆转SAD患者的情绪调节 光疗法的抗抑郁作用和加重抑郁的作用 通过降低大脑中的5-羟色胺水平。我们试图 这是通过操纵膳食中的大量营养素来诱导 生化变化。我们还研究了5-羟色胺的外周标志物。 通过测定血小板结合参数来发挥功能。血小板对 5-羟色胺和抗抑郁药物在血浆中的作用类似于 脑细胞。第三项研究是在我们之前的角色研究的基础上进行的 在SAD的发病机制中眼睛及其与大脑的联系，通过 冬季患者和对照组的比较 以及夏季的条件。最后，一组SAD患者和对照组 在冬季和夏季学习，以了解交感神经 系统反应和下丘脑-垂体-肾上腺(HPA)轴。 SAD患者和对照组分别给予m-CPP或安慰剂输注 未治疗和光疗治疗条件下的随机天数 区块设计。在输液后90分钟内抽血 催乳素、皮质醇和促肾上腺皮质激素。核心体温和外周体温 也有人了。血浆催乳素和皮质醇水平呈下降趋势 以前的发现(SAD患者的高分泌)，但没有重复 这些发现。患者组与对照组差异无统计学意义 核心体温。光处理降低了夜间温度 在两组中。患者外周体温升高 在光疗期间接近正常水平。 在血小板研究中，SAD患者和 SAD患者在任何措施和光照治疗条件之间的对照 有耐心的 一组SAD患者和对照组在冬季和夏季接受治疗 进行标准眼科检查和眼电图检查。意义重大的一季 两组间差异有统计学意义(F=4.84，G-G p&lt；0.05)，其中对照组有 冬季EOG比率明显高于患者或两者 夏日里的团体。 交感神经系统和HPA轴的研究正在进行中，AS 然而，目前还没有任何发现。

Although repeated studies have established that bright light is an effective treatment for SAD, the mechanisms of its actions remains unknown, as do the fundamental biological abnormalities responsible for the syndrome. There is ample reason to believe that brain serotonergic systems may be involved in these processes. Last year we reported that SAD patients respond abnormally, with exaggerated activation and euphoria, to infusions of the serotonin agonist, m-CPP. We have followed up this previous report on the hormonal and temperature responses of the same patients to this challenge study. This year we extended our research to test the hypothesis that serotonergic transmission is an important regulator of mood in SAD patients by attempting to reverse the antidepressant effects of light therapy and exacerbate depression i these same individuals by reducing brain serotonin levels. We attempted to accomplish this by manipulating dietary macronutrients to induce biochemical changes. We also studied peripheral markers of serotonin function by measuring parameters of platelet binding. Platelets respond to serotonin and antidepressant medications in plasma in a similar fashion as brain cells. A third study followed up on our previous study of the role of the eye and its connections to the brain in the pathogenesis of SAD, by comparing patients and controls in winter and summer conditions. Finally, a group of SAD patients an controls were studied in winter and summer in order to understand sympathetic nervous system response and the hypothalamo-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis. SAD patients and controls were given m-CPP or placebo infusions on separate days in untreated and light therapy treated conditions in a randomized block design. For 90 minutes following infusion blood was drawn for prolactin, cortisol, and ACTH. Core and peripheral body temperature were also taken. Plasma prolactin and cortisol levels showed a trend toward the previous findings (hypersecretion in SAD patients), but did not replicate those findings. no difference between patient and control group was found for core body temperature. Light treatment lowered overnight temperature in both groups. Patients had higher peripheral body temperature which rose towards normal levels during light therapy. In the platelet study no differences were found between SAD patients and controls in any of the measures and between light therapy conditions in SAD patient A group of SAD patients and controls in winter and summer were administered a standard ocular paradigm and an EOG was taken. A significant season y group difference was found (F=4.84, G-G p<.05) in which controls had a significantly higher EOG ratio in winter than patients or than in both groups in summer. The study of the sympathetic nervous system and HPA axis is ongoing, and as yet there are no findings.