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Central nervous system serotonin function and cardiovascular responses to stress . OBJECTIVE The objective of this study was to evaluate the impact of indices of central nervous system ( CNS ) serotonin function on cardiovascular reactivity to mental stress . METHODS Lumbar puncture was performed on 54 healthy volunteers to obtain cerebrospinal fluid ( CSF ) for determination of 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid ( 5HIAA ) levels . Genotypes were determined with respect to a functional polymorphism of the serotonin transporter gene promoter region ( 5HTTLPR ) . Subjects then underwent mental stress testing . RESULTS Persons with one or two long ( l ) 5HTTLPR alleles had CSF levels of the major serotonin metabolite , 5HIAA , that were 50 % higher than those of persons with the s/s 5HTTLPR genotype . Persons with one or two l alleles or higher CSF 5HIAA levels also exhibited greater blood pressure and heart rate responses to a mental stress protocol . CONCLUSIONS These findings suggest the 5HTTLPR polymorphism affects CNS serotonin function , and they are consistent with the general hypothesis that CNS serotonin function is involved in the regulation of potentially health-damaging biobehavioral characteristics . In particular , the l allele could contribute , through its association with increased cardiovascular reactivity to stress , to increased risk of cardiovascular disease .
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Intervention_Physical
Lumbar puncture
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Outcome_Physical
cardiovascular responses
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Outcome_Physical
cardiovascular reactivity
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Outcome_Physical
CSF levels
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Outcome_Physical
CSF 5HIAA levels
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Outcome_Physical
blood pressure and heart rate responses
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Outcome_Physical
cardiovascular reactivity
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Participant_Sample-size
54
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Participant_Condition
5HTTLPR alleles
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Participant_Condition
5HTTLPR genotype