Serotonin Modulates the Correlations between Obsessive-compulsive Trait and Heart Rate Variability in Normal Healthy Subjects: A SPECT Study with [¹²³I]ADAM and Heart Rate Variability Measurement

Abstract

Objective The impact of serotonergic system on obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is well studied. However, the correlation between OC presentations and autonomic nervous system (ANS) is still unclear. Furthermore, whether the correlation might be modulated by serotonin is also uncertain. Methods We recruited eighty-nine healthy subjects. Serotonin transporter (SERT) availability by [ 123 I]ADAM and heart rate variability (HRV) tests were measured. Symptoms checklist-90 was measured for the OC presentations. The interaction between HRV and SERT availability were calculated and the correlation between HRV and OC symptoms were analyzed after stratified SERT level into two groups, split at medium. Results The interactions were significant in the factors of low frequency (LF), high frequency (HF), and root mean square of successive differences (RMSSD). Furthermore, the significantly negative correlations between OC symptoms and the above HRV indexes existed only in subjects with higher SERT availability. Conclusion OC symptoms might be correlated with ANS regulations in subjects with higher SERT availability.

Brain Derived Neurotrophic Factor Methylation and Long-term Outcomes after Stroke Interacting with Suicidal Ideation

“…The link between elevated methylation status of specific CpG sites in the BDNF gene and poor long-term stroke outcomes can be attributed to the known effects of methylation, which result in the reduced transcription and gene expression [ 17 , 24 ]. Decreased levels of expressed BDNF, in turn, impede neurogenesis and neuronal repair after stroke and indirectly leads to platelet aggregation and promote inflammation through interactions with the serotonin system and inflammatory processes [ 35 - 37 ]. These mechanisms hinder stroke recovery and increase the risk of CCVEs.…”