DISTRIBUTION & QUANTIFICATION OF SEROTONIN 1A RECEPTORS IN HEALTHY HUMAN SUBJS

该子项目是利用NIH/NCRR资助的中心赠款提供的资源的许多研究子项目之一。子项目和研究者（PI）可能从另一个NIH来源获得主要资金，因此可以在其他CRISP条目中表示。所列机构为中心机构，不一定为研究者机构。重度抑郁症是一种常见的致残性疾病，被认为是由脑细胞之间的化学通讯（神经传递）的变化介导的。众所周知，压力和消极的生活事件会加速重度抑郁症的发作，然后往往需要一个重复的，自主的过程。随着随后的抑郁发作再次发生，其治疗往往变得更加困难，压力和抑郁发作之间的联系变得不那么明显。该项目研究神经递质系统（血清素能）的功能，该系统与情绪调节和抗抑郁药物的作用有关。它研究了对压力有反应的激素（糖皮质激素和盐皮质激素）与5-羟色胺1A受体浓度之间的关系，5-羟色胺1A受体介导了脑细胞中5-羟色胺的一些作用。据推测，这些应激反应激素的异常（增加）产生将影响血清素1A受体的浓度，这反过来又与抗抑郁药物的不良反应有关。阐明这些机制将提高我们对重性抑郁症的大脑基础和个体对抗抑郁药反应的可变性的理解。

This subproject is one of many research subprojects utilizing the resources provided by a Center grant funded by NIH/NCRR. The subproject and investigator (PI) may have received primary funding from another NIH source, and thus could be represented in other CRISP entries. The institution listed is for the Center, which is not necessarily the institution for the investigator. Major Depression is a frequent and disabling illness, thought to be mediated by changes in the chemical communication (neurotransmission) between brain cells. Stress and negative life events are known to precipitate the onset of episodes of Major Depression, which then often takes a repetitive, autonomous course. As subsequent episodes of depression re-occur, its treatment often times becomes more difficult, and the association between stress and episodes of depression becomes less apparent. This project examines the function of a neurotransmitter system, the serotonergic, implicated in the regulation of mood and in the effect of antidepressant medications. It examines the relationship between hormones responsive to stress (glucocorticoids and mineralocorticoids), and the concentration of serotonin 1A receptors, which mediate some of the effects of serotonin in brain cells. It is hypothesized that the abnormal (increased) production of these stress-response hormones will influence the concentration of serotonin 1A receptors, which will in turn be associated with a poor response to antidepressant medications. Elucidation of these mechanisms will improve our understanding of the brain underpinnings of Major Depression and the variability in the individual's response to antidepressants.