Brain Imaging of Serotonin Transporters in the Brain

Completed

Conditions studied: Healthy, Serotonin Transporter

In brief

Serotonin is a chemical involved in the regulation of emotions, anxiety, sleep, stress, and other body functions. The purpose of this study is to use brain imaging technology to study how serotonin works in the brain. The serotonin transporter (SERT) regulates the release of sertonin throughout the body. Until recently, radioactive chemicals called tracers were not suitable for viewing SERT activity. However, a newly developed tracer called \[11C\]DASB can be used with positron emission tomography (PET) imaging to view the parts of the brain that use serotonin. Participants in this study will be screened with medical and psychiatric examinations, an electrocardiogram (EKG), and blood and urine tests. This study comprises two parts. During Part 1, participants will undergo a whole-body PET scan. During Part 2, participants will undergo a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan of the brain. At the next study visit, participants will have one or two PET head scans. If not is not possible to perform both scans on the same day, an additional visit will be scheduled for the second PET scan.

Key facts

Study ID
NCT00059046
Run by
National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH)
People needed
20
Starts
2003-04-01
Expected to finish
2005-01-01
Last updated by the study team
2008-03-04

Who can join

Age: any. Sex: any. Healthy volunteers: accepted.

Where it is running

Full record on ClinicalTrials.gov

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