TY  - JOUR
PY  - 2005//
TI  - Cholesterol-lowering therapy evokes time-limited changes in serotonergic transmission
JO  - Psychiatry research
A1  - Vevera, Jan
A1  - Fišar, Zdeněk
A1  - Kvasnicka, Tomás
A1  - Zdenek, Hanus
A1  - Stárková, Lucie
A1  - Ceska, Richard
A1  - Papezová, Hana
SP  - 197
EP  - 203
VL  - 133
IS  - 2-3
N2  - A number of studies have reported an increased risk for violent deaths and depression in subjects with reduced serum cholesterol concentrations. Links with hypothesized impairment of serotonin neurotransmission have not been satisfactorily tested. In this investigation, the serum and membrane cholesterol, microviscosity of erythrocyte membranes, platelet serotonin uptake, and clinical parameters were determined during pharmacotherapy of 17 hypercholesterolemic patients. A significant decrease in serum cholesterol and a nonsignificant decrease in membrane cholesterol concentration were found after 2 months of simvastatin therapy. Serotonin transporter (SERT) activity was significantly increased following 1 month of simvastatin; the tendency to decrease the initial increase in SERT activity was evident following 2 months of therapy. Both membrane cholesterol and SERT activity returned to pre-treatment levels after more than 1 year of therapy. Microviscosity of plasma membranes, impulsivity, empathy, adventure, sensation seeking, and depressed mood were not markedly changed. These data indicate that long-term therapy has different effects on serotonin transmission from short-term (1- to 2-month) therapy. A significant increase in SERT activity was detected only during the first month of simvastatin therapy. This finding suggests that within this period some patients could be vulnerable to depression, violence, or suicide.<p /> <p>Language: en</p>
LA  - en
SN  - 0165-1781
UR  - http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.psychres.2004.11.005
ID  - ref1
ER  -