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  • Title: Serotonergic effects of smoking are independent from the human serotonin transporter gene promoter polymorphism: evidence from auditory cortical stimulus processing.
    Author: Gallinat J, Kunz D, Lang UE, Kalus P, Juckel G, Eggers J, Mahlberg R, Staedtgen M, Wernicke C, Rommelspacher H, Smolka MN.
    Journal: Pharmacopsychiatry; 2005 Jul; 38(4):158-60. PubMed ID: 16025417.
    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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