Effects of electroconvulsive therapy on cerebral A1 adenosine receptor availability: a PET study in patients suffering from treatment-resistant major depressive disorder

Introduction Sleep deprivation and electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) effectively ameliorate symptoms in major depressive disorder (MDD). In rodents, both are associated with an enhancement of cerebral adenosine levels, which turn likely influence adenosinergic receptor expression. The aim the current study was to investigate A 1 (A AR) availability patients MDD as a potential mediating factor antidepressant effects ECT using [ 18 F]CPFPX positron emission tomography (PET). Methods Regional AR determined before after series applications (mean number ± SD 10.4 1.2) 14 subjects (4 males, mean age 49.5 11.8 years). Clinical outcome, measured by neuropsychological testing, parameters were correlated changes availability. Results had strong antidepressive effect ( p < 0.01) while on average remained unaltered between pre-and post-ECT conditions F = 0.65, 0.42, difference 3.93% 22.7%). There no correlation clinical outcome regional availability, although individual showed striking bidirectional alterations up 30–40% ECT. Solely, for seizure quality index applied ECTs significant association found r s −0.6, 0.02). Discussion present study, therapeutically effective treatment did not result coherent treatments. These findings do exclude role ARs ECT, but shift attention rather short-termed adaptive mechanisms during ECT-related convulsive effects.