NCT01065220

Sex Steroids and the Serotonin Transporter

The Influence of Sex Steroid Hormones on Serotonin Transporter Binding in the Human Brain Investigated by Positron Emission Tomography

• Status: Completed
• Phase: Phase 4
• Study type: Interventional
• Enrollment: 32 (actual)
• Sponsor: Medical University of Vienna · Academic / Other
• Sex: All
• Age: 18 Years – 55 Years
• Healthy volunteers: Not accepted

Summary

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.

Conditions

• Transsexualism

Interventions

Type	Name	Description
DRUG	Testolactone undecanoate	4ml i.m.
DRUG	Lynestrenol	2/day
DRUG	Cyproterone Acetate	50mg per day
DRUG	Estradiol	100 microgram TTS twice a week
DRUG	5-alpha reductase inhibitor	1mg daily

Timeline

• Start date: 2010-02-01
• Primary completion: 2014-01-01
• Completion: 2014-01-01
• First posted: 2010-02-09
• Last updated: 2014-01-03

Locations

1 site across 1 country: Austria