Statistical mapping analysis of serotonin synthesis images generated in healthy volunteers using positron-emission tomography and alpha-[C-11]methyl-L-tryptophan
H. Okazawa et al., Statistical mapping analysis of serotonin synthesis images generated in healthy volunteers using positron-emission tomography and alpha-[C-11]methyl-L-tryptophan, J PSYCH NEU, 25(4), 2000, pp. 359-370
Objectives: To assess the suitability of analyzing functional images of bra
in serotonin (5-HT) synthesis with statistical parametric mapping (SPM), an
d to investigate further possible sex-related regional differences. Design:
Prospective study. Participants: Six healthy men and 5 healthy women. Inte
rvention: Participants' brains were scanned with positron-emission tomograp
hy (PET) after intravenous injection of alpha-[C-11]methyl-L-tryptophan (al
pha-[C-11]MTrp). Outcome measures: Tissue radioactivity images were convert
ed into functional images using the Patlak plot approach, and analyzed with
2 methods for global normalization in the SPM program: proportional scalin
g and analysis of covariance (ANCOVA). Results: The data structure suggests
that PET alpha-[C-11]MTrp data meet the criteria for analysis with SPM, an
d that the proportional scaling method is more appropriate than the ANCOVA
method for normalization. Regional differences in 5-HT synthesis were ident
ified between men and women, and the significance of these findings was sup
ported by region of interest (ROI) analyses. Conclusion: SPM analyses of PE
T alpha-[C-11]MTrp data may be of value for identifying regional difference
s in brain 5-HT synthesis between groups, and in investigating the effects
of psychotropic drugs. Since we found regional differences between male and
female subjects, men and women should not be grouped for data analysis in
PET alpha-[C-11]MTrp studies.