Serotonergic Effects of Smoking are Independent from the Human Serotonin Transporter Gene Promoter Polymorphism: Evidence from Auditory Cortical Stimulus Processing

J. Gallinat; D. Kunz; U. E. Lang; P. Kalus; G. Juckel; J. Eggers; R. Mahlberg; M. Staedtgen; C. Wernicke; H. Rommelspacher; M. N. Smolka

doi:10.1055/s-2005-871237

Pharmacopsychiatry 2005; 38(4): 158-160
DOI: 10.1055/s-2005-871237

Original Paper

Serotonergic Effects of Smoking are Independent from the Human Serotonin Transporter Gene Promoter Polymorphism: Evidence from Auditory Cortical Stimulus Processing

J. Gallinat¹*, D. Kunz¹*, U. E. Lang² , P. Kalus¹ , G. Juckel¹ , J. Eggers⁴ , R. Mahlberg¹ , M. Staedtgen¹ , C. Wernicke² , H. Rommelspacher² , M. N. Smolka³

¹Clinic for Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Charité University Medicine, Campus Mitte, Berlin, Germany
²Clinic for Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Charité University Medicine, Campus Benjamin Franklin, Berlin, Germany
³Central Institute of Mental Health, Mannheim, Germany
⁴Clinic for Neurology, University Clinic Schleswig-Holstein Campus, Luebeck, Germany

Abstract

Background: Cigarette smoking has been associated with mood enhancing properties and modulating effects on serotonin activity. The loudness dependence (LD) of the auditory-evoked N1/P2-component has been related to serotonergic neurotransmission, i. e. the allelic variants in the promoter of the 5-hydroxytryptamine-transporter (5-HTT) gene (SCL6A4). Moreover, smoking behavior has been associated to the 5-HTT-genotype. It was hypothesized that cigarette smoking modulates the LD and this effect was expected to interact with the 5-HTT-genotype. Methods: 5-HTT-genotype and LD were determined in 63 healthy smokers and 114 nonsmokers. Results: LD was significantly affected by smoking status (p = 0.008) and 5-HTT-genotype (p = 0.045) but not by smoking*genotype-interaction or daily cigarette consumption. Current smokers exhibited a significantly weaker LD compared to nonsmokers. 5-HTT-genotype showed no significant effect on smoking behavior. Discussion: The results indicate a higher serotonergic activity in smokers as compared to nonsmokers independent of 5-HTT-genotype. Since former smokers and never smokers showed similar LDs, the serotonin enhancing effect of smoking seems to be a characteristic state, which may contribute to the maintenance of smoking behavior.

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References

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Jürgen Gallinat, MD

Psychiatrische Universitätsklinik der Charité im St. Hedwig Krankenhaus

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