Norepinephrine transporter and depression

2014 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 24591691
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Research Field: Psychiatric science
• Research Institution: National Center of Neurology and Psychiatry (2014); National Institute of Radiological Sciences (2012-2013)
• Principal Investigator: TAKANO Harumasa 独立行政法人国立精神・神経医療研究センター, 病院, 医長 (30348792)
• Project Period (FY): 2012-04-01 – 2015-03-31
• Keywords: PET / ノルエピネフリントランスポーター / うつ病

Outline of Final Research Achievements

The norepinephrine transporter (NET) is one of the key drug targets for major depression disorder (MDD). We measured NET availability (BPND) values in 13 medication-free patients with MDD and 13 age- and sex-matched healthy controls using positron emission tomography (PET) with (S,S)-[18F]FMeNER-D2. Compared to healthy controls, patients showed a significantly higher NET BPND in the thalamus, in particular, in the sub-region connected to the prefrontal cortex. This study provides evidence of impaired cortical-thalamic connections innervated by norepinephrine systems in MDD.

Free Research Field

精神医学