Latest Serotonin transporter Stories

[ Watch the Video ] John Neumann for redOrbit.com - Your Universe Online Researchers have succeeded in tracking a single protein that regulates the neurotransmitter serotonin, making it possible to study the dynamics of the protein which regulates mood, appetite and sleep, at an unprecedented level of detail, reports David Salisbury of Vanderbilt University. Attempts to understand how these transporters work have been limited by the difficulty of studying their dynamic behavior. The...

Early disruptions in serotonin signaling in the brain may contribute to autism spectrum disorder (ASD), and other "enduring effects on behavior," Vanderbilt University researchers report. Serotonin is a brain chemical that carries signals across the synapse, or gap between nerve cells. The supply of serotonin is regulated by the serotonin transporter (SERT). In 2005, a team of Vanderbilt researchers led by Randy Blakely and James Sutcliffe identified rare genetic variations in children...

Meaningful associations dependent on reliable measures of pre-existing trauma Data in a study published in the Archives of General Psychiatry suggest that certain variants of a gene that helps regulate serotonin (a brain chemical related to mood), may serve as a useful predictor of risk for symptoms related to posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) following a trauma. "One of the critical questions surrounding PTSD is why some individuals are at risk for developing the disorder following...

University of Michigan research finds new evidence that our genes play a role in our response to adversityUniversity of Michigan Health System researchers have found new evidence that our genes help determine our susceptibility to depression.Their findings, published online today in the Archives of General Psychiatry, challenge a 2009 study that called the genetic link into question and add new support to earlier research hailed as a medical breakthrough.In the summer of 2003, scientists...

Researchers say they can't link depression to your genetic makeup, but the more bad things that happen to you, the more likely you are to suffer severe depression.Despite progress in risk gene identification for complex diseases, few disorders have proven as resistant to gene identification as psychiatric illnesses. Contrary to a previous report, an analysis of 14 previous studies finds no association between a serotonin transporter gene variation, stressful life events, and an increased risk...

Contrary to a previous report, an analysis of 14 previous studies does not find an association between a serotonin transporter gene variation, stressful life events, and an increased risk of major depression, according to an article in the June 17 issue of JAMA. The authors did find that the number of stressful life events is associated with depression.Despite progress in risk gene identification for several complex diseases, few disorders have proven as resistant to gene identification as...

Findings Could Lead to More Personalized Alcohol Treatment MethodsNew research from the University of Virginia Health System could help explain why some alcoholics are more severe drinkers than others.   A UVA team has found strong evidence that the serotonin transporter gene, SLC6A4, plays a significant role in influencing drinking intensity among alcohol-dependent individuals.The study, published in the February 2009 issue of Alcoholism: Clinical & Experimental Research, analyzed...

DNA plays a role in the amount of alcohol you drink, researchers say.Among alcohol-dependent (AD) individuals, DNA variations in the brain's serotonergic system influence drinking intensity. Specifically the serotonin transporter gene (SLC6A4) contributes to a person's inclination to drink.Researchers analyzed the associations between 275 AD patients seeking treatment and six variations of SLC6A4. Of the six variations, those who carried two T alleles were found to drink more intensely than...

Canadian researchers have found they can use positron emission tomography, or PET scans, to detect seasonal variations in brain chemical transport. Dr. Jeffrey Meyer of the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health in Toronto led a team of researchers who determined the variations in how much serotonin -- a brain chemical involved in regulating physical functions such as eating and energy balance -- is removed via serotonin transporter binding in the living brain can be correlated with the...