The impact of tryptophan depletion and 5-HTTLPR genotype on passive avoidance and response reversal instrumental learning tasks

Antagonism of serotonergic 5-HT2A/2C receptors: mutual improvement of sleep, cognition and mood?

Serotonin [5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT)] and 5-HT receptors are involved in sleep and in waking functions such as cognition and mood. Animal and human studies support a particular role for the 5-HT(2A) receptor in sleep, which has led to renewed interest in this receptor subtype as a target for the development of novel pharmacological agents to treat insomnia. Focusing primarily on findings in healthy human volunteers, a review of the available data suggests that antagonistic interaction with 5-HT(2A) receptors (and possibly also 5-HT(2C) receptors) prolongs the duration of slow wave sleep and enhances low-frequency (< 7 Hz) activity in the sleep electroencephalogram (EEG), a widely accepted marker of sleep intensity. Despite certain differences, the changes in sleep and the sleep EEG appear to be remarkably similar to those of physiologically more intense sleep after sleep deprivation. It is currently unclear whether these changes in sleep are associated with improved vigilance, cognition and mood during wakefulness. While drug-induced interaction with sleep must be interpreted cautiously, too few studies are available to provide a clear answer to this question. Moreover, functional relationships between sleep and waking functions may differ between healthy controls and patients with sleep disorders. A multimodal approach investigating subjective and objective aspects of sleep and wakefulness provides a promising research avenue for shedding light on the complex relationships among 5-HT(2A/2C) receptor-mediated effects on sleep, the sleep EEG, cognition and mood in health and various diseases associated with disturbed sleep and waking functions.

A serotonin transporter gene polymorphism (5-HTTLPR), drinking-to-cope motivation, and negative life events among college students

OBJECTIVE

This study was performed to examine whether a polymorphism (5-HTTLPR) in the serotonin transporter gene was related to college students' reports of relief drinking (drinking-to-cope motives) and whether it moderated the associations between negative life events and drinking to cope. We examined reward drinking (drinking-to-enhance motives) as a comparison and to see whether these effects varied across gender.

METHOD

Using an Internet-based survey, college students (N = 360; 192 women) self-reported on drinking motives and negative life events for up to 4 years. Study participants provided saliva for genotyping the triallelic (LA vs LG or S) variants of 5-HTTLPR.

RESULTS

Among men, individuals with two risk alleles (LG or S), compared with individuals with the LA/LA allele, displayed lower drinking-to-cope motives. Among women, individuals with one risk allele (either LG or S), compared with individuals with the LA/LA allele, displayed stronger drinking-to-enhance motives. The association between yearly changes in negative life events and drinking-to-cope motives varied across 5-HTTLPR genotype and gender and was strongest in the positive direction for women with the LA/LA variant.

CONCLUSIONS

Our findings are not consistent with prior speculation that stronger positive associations between life stress and alcohol use among individuals with the LG or S allele are the result of increased use of alcohol as a method for coping with stress. The importance of examining gender differences in the relations between 5-HTTLPR, substance use, and related constructs is also noted.

Differential effects of 5-HTTLPR and DRD2/ANKK1 polymorphisms on electrocortical measures of error and feedback processing in children

OBJECTIVE

Applying a probabilistic learning task we examined the influence of functional polymorphisms of the serotonin transporter gene (5-HTTLPR) and the D2 dopamine receptor gene (DRD2/ANKK1) on error and feedback processing by measuring electrocortical event-related potentials (ERPs) in 10- to 12-year-old children.

METHODS

Three pairwise group comparisons were conducted on four distinguishable ERP components, two of which were response-related, the other two feedback-related.

RESULTS

Our ERP data revealed that children carrying the short (S) variant of the 5-HTTLPR gene process their errors more intensively while exhibiting less habituation to negative feedback with task progression compared to children who are homozygous for the 5-HTTLPR long (L) variant. Children possessing the Taq1 A variant of the DRD2 gene showed greater sensitivity to negative feedback and, as opposed to Taq1 A non-carriers, a diminishing sensitivity to positive feedback with task progression. Regarding error processing, children possessing both the S variant of the 5-HTTLPR and the Taq1 A allele of the DRD2 gene showed a picture quite similar to that of the 5-HTTLPR S carriers and regarding feedback processing quite similar to that of the DRD2 Taq1 A carriers.

CONCLUSIONS

Our findings support the hypotheses that the 5-HTTLPR S allele may predispose to (performance) anxiety, while DRD2 Taq1 A allele may predispose to the reward deficiency syndrome.

SIGNIFICANCE

The results may further enhance our understanding of known associations between these polymorphisms and psychopathology.

The neurobiology of psychopathy

Numerous studies have tackled the complex challenge of understanding the neural substrates of psychopathy, revealing that brain abnormalities exist on several levels and in several structures. As we discover more about complex neural networks, it becomes increasingly difficult to clarify how these systems interact with each other to produce the distinct pattern of behavioral and personality characteristics observed in psychopathy. The authors review the recent research on the neurobiology of psychopathy, beginning with molecular neuroscience work and progressing to the level of brain structures and their connectivity. Potential factors that may affect the development of brain impairments, as well as how some systems may be targeted for potential treatment, are discussed.

The moderation by the serotonin transporter gene of environmental adversity in the aetiology of mental illness: review and methodological analysis

Gene-environmental interaction (G x E) between a common functional polymorphism in the promoter region of the serotonin transporter gene (5-HTT) and environmental adversity on the onset of depression in humans has been found in fifteen independent studies. It is supported by evidence from animal experiments, pharmacological challenge and neuroimaging investigations. However, negative findings have been reported in two large samples. We explore reasons for the inconsistencies and suggest means to their resolution. Sample age and gender composition emerge as important factors. While the G x E has been consistently detected in young adult samples, there are contradictory findings in adolescent boys and elderly people. The method of assessment of environmental adversity is also important with detailed interview-based approaches being associated with positive G x E findings. Unresolved issues in the definition of the genotype include the dominance of alleles and influence of other polymorphisms, both in 5-HTT and other genes. Assessment of multiple adverse outcomes, including depression, substance use and self-destructive behaviour is needed to clarify the generalisability of the G x E pathogenic mechanisms. Biological and behavioural intermediate phenotypes are yet to be exploited to understand the mechanisms underlying the G x E.

The role of 5-HTTLPR in choosing the lesser of two evils, the better of two goods: examining the impact of 5-HTTLPR genotype and tryptophan depletion in object choice

RATIONALE

The serotonin (5-HT) system is considered important for decision-making. However, its role in reward- and punishment-based processing has not yet been clearly determined.

OBJECTIVES

The present study examines the effect of 5-HTTLPR genotype and tryptophan depletion on reward- and punishment-related processing, using a task that considers decision-making in situations of subtlety of choice. Thus, it considers that response choice often occurs in situations where both options are desirable (e.g., choosing between mousse au chocolat or crème caramel cheesecake from a menu) or undesirable. It also considers that response choice is easier when the reinforcements associated with the options are far apart, rather than close, in value.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Healthy volunteers underwent acute tryptophan depletion (ATD) or control procedures and genotyping of the 5-HTTLPR for long and short allele variants. We then examined the effects and interactions of ATD and the serotonin promoter polymorphism genotype on two aspects of decision-making: (a) decision form, choosing between two objects to gain the greater reward or lesser punishment and (b) between-object reinforcement distance, the difference in reinforcements associated with two options.

RESULTS

ATD and LL homozygosity had comparable interactions with decision form and between-object reinforcement distance. Specifically, both modulated the effect of between-object reinforcement distance when deciding between objects both associated with punishment. Moreover, ATD and genotype interacted with ATD disproportionately affecting the performance of the LL homozygous group.

CONCLUSIONS

These results suggest that serotonin is particularly associated with punishment, rather than reward-related processing, and that individual sensitivity to punishment-related information and tryptophan depletion varies with genotype.

Lack of evidence for reduced prefrontal cortical serotonin and dopamine efflux after acute tryptophan depletion

RATIONALE

Acute tryptophan depletion (ATD) is a widely used method to study the role of serotonin (5-HT) in affect and cognition. ATD results in a strong but transient decrease in plasma tryptophan and central 5-HT synthesis and availability. Although its use is widespread, the evidence that the numerous functional effects of ATD are caused by actual changes in 5-HT neuronal release is not very strong. Thus far, decreases in 5-HT efflux (thought to reflect synaptic release) were only reported after chronic tryptophan depletion or when ATD was combined with blockade of 5-HT reuptake.

OBJECTIVE

With the current experiment, we aimed to study the validity of the method of ATD by measuring the extent to which it reduces the efflux of 5-HT (and dopamine) in the prefrontal cortex in the absence of reuptake blockage.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

We simultaneously measured in freely moving animals plasma tryptophan via a catheter in the jugular vein and 5-HT and DA efflux in the medial prefrontal cortex through microdialysis after ATD treatment.

RESULTS

ATD reduced plasma tryptophan to less than 30% of control, without affecting 5-HT or DA efflux in the prefrontal cortex, indicating that even strong reductions of plasma tryptophan do not necessarily result in decreases in central 5-HT efflux.

CONCLUSION

The present experiment showed that reductions in plasma tryptophan, similar to values associated with behavioural effects, do not necessarily reduce 5-HT efflux and suggest that the cognitive and behavioural effects of ATD may not be (exclusively) due to alterations in 5-HT release.

The amygdala and ventromedial prefrontal cortex in morality and psychopathy

Recent work has implicated the amygdala and ventromedial prefrontal cortex in morality and, when dysfunctional, psychopathy. This model proposes that the amygdala, through stimulus-reinforcement learning, enables the association of actions that harm others with the aversive reinforcement of the victims' distress. Consequent information on reinforcement expectancy, fed forward to the ventromedial prefrontal cortex, can guide the healthy individual away from moral transgressions. In psychopathy, dysfunction in these structures means that care-based moral reasoning is compromised and the risk that antisocial behavior is used instrumentally to achieve goals is increased.

Locomotory patterns, spatiotemporal organization of exploration and spatial memory in serotonin transporter knockout mice

Serotonin transporter knockout (SERT-/-) mice are extensively used as a genetic model of several neuropsychiatric disorders, and consistently display anxiety-like behaviors and inactivity in different tests. To better understand how these mice organize their behavior, we assessed the open field and elevated plus maze spatiotemporal patterning of activity in adult male SERT wild type (+/+), heterozygous (+/-) and -/- mice on C57BL/6J genetic background using new videotracking and analytic procedures. In addition, we analyzed their spatial memory, assessing within- and between-trial habituation, and examined specific motor characteristics of their movement in these two tests. In the open field test, SERT-/- mice showed reduced vertical exploration throughout the arena, reduced central (but not peripheral) horizontal exploration, unaltered within-trial habituation, and slightly poorer between-trial habituation for horizontal activity. In the elevated plus maze, SERT-/- mice demonstrated anxiety-like avoidance of open arms, hypoactivity, as well as unaltered within-trial and between-trial habituation (except for poorer between-trial habituation of total horizontal activity). In both tests, SERT-/- mice showed greater prevalence of horizontal over vertical dimension of their exploration in the areas protected by the walls (open field periphery, plus maze closed arms), but not in open aversive areas, such as the center of the open field or center or open arms of the maze. In both arenas, SERT-/- mice consistently displayed increased turning behavior, potentially representing a perseverance-like phenotype or aberrant spatial strategies in novel environments. Overall, using a fine-graded behavioral analysis in two different novelty tests, this study revealed alterations in motor and spatiotemporal patterning of activity in SERT-/- mice. Given the relevance of exploratory strategies to human personality traits and brain disorders, our data may be useful for developing further neurobehavioral models using these mice.

Impaired recognition of fear facial expressions in 5-HTTLPR S-polymorphism carriers following tryptophan depletion

RATIONALE

Genotype at the 5' promoter region (5-HTTLPR) of the serotonin transporter has been implicated in moderating the effects of acute tryptophan depletion on neurocognitive functioning. Acute tryptophan depletion has been associated with the processing of fear-relevant cues, such as emotional expressions, but the effect of genotype at the 5-HTTLPR has not been assessed.

OBJECTIVE

The present study investigated the effects of acute tryptophan depletion on the recognition of standardized facial expressions of emotions in healthy volunteers classified as ll homozygotes or s carriers.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A double-blind between-groups design was used with volunteers randomly selected to ingest capsules containing an amino acid mixture specifically lacking tryptophan, or placebo capsules containing lactose. 5 h after capsule ingestion, subjects were required to identify anger, disgust, fear, happiness, sadness, and surprise expressions that progressed from neutral to each full emotional expression in 5% steps.

RESULTS

Tryptophan depletion significantly impaired the recognition of fearful facial expressions in s carriers but not ll homozygotes. This impairment was specific to fear expressions. No significant differences in the recognition of other expressions were found. Free tryptophan levels were correlated with fear recognition in s carriers but not ll homozygotes.

CONCLUSIONS

The effects of acute tryptophan depletion on the processing of emotional expressions varies as a function of genotype at the 5-HTTLPR. Depletion impairs the recognition of fear in s carriers but not ll homozygotes. This finding reinforces the importance of considering genotype when assessing the behavioral effects of pharmacologic modulation.