The aim of this study is to prove the influence of the sex steroid hormones estrogen, progesterone and testosterone on the serotonin transporter (5-HTT) binding using positron emission tomography (PET) and the selective radioligand \[11C\]DASB. Specifically, the 5-HTT binding will be quantified before and after hormone therapy underwent by 10 male-to-female (MtF) and 10 female-to-male (FtM) transsexuals urging for hormone treatment. The high-level, long-term administration of opsite sex steroid hormones in transsexuals provide the unique opportunity to investigate the influence of sex steroid hormones on the serotonergic system. Since the serotonin transporter serves as a primary target molecule for antidepressant treatment, the results of the study will be of benefit for the assessment of the clinical relevance of estrogen and testosterone as modulatory and neuroactive agents.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
NON_RANDOMIZED
Purpose
BASIC_SCIENCE
Masking
NONE
Enrollment
32
4ml i.m.
2/day
50mg per day
100 microgram TTS twice a week
1mg daily
Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Medical University of Vienna
Vienna, Austria
change in serotonin-transporter binding potential (BP) in predefined brain regions, measured by Positron Emission Tomography
The serotonin-transporter BP will be assessed in a 90 min. dynamic PET measurement session at three timepoints: before start of hormonal therapy, after four weeks of hormonal therapy, and after 4 months of hormonal therapy
Time frame: 5 months
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