The role of serotonin in the development of fibro-cystic changes of the breast

A hypothesis was suggested as to the relationship between serotonin and the development of fibro-cystic changes of the breast evolving from the fibrous subtype through cystic to fibro-cystic subtypes. It was decided to verify the above hypothesis by examining the concentrations of serotonin in blood sera in women with fibro-cystic changes of the breasts – in comparison with – the control group of healthy women as well as to determine the correlations between the concentration of serotonin and the subtypes of fibro-cystic changes of the breasts. The study was performed in 113 menstruating women. The control group comprised 32 women (mean age 44.9±4.4 y.) without any pathological changes in their breasts. The study group included 81 women (mean age 45.5±3.5 y.) with fibro-cystic changes of their breasts. Both groups were divided depending on their age – into two subgroups, namely into age brackets of 40–44 and 45–51 years. The fibro-cystic changes were divided into three subtypes: fibrous, cystic and fibro-cystic. Women in age brackets of 40–44 and 45–51 years were found to show significantly higher concentrations of serotonin in blood sera (p<0001; p<0.01) in comparison to – the control group. Markedly high concentration of serotonin in blood sera in women with galactorrhoe was disclosed (p<0.001). On average, a significantly positive correlation was revealed between the subtypes of fibro-cystic changes of the breast and serotonin concentrations (R=0.3625; p<0.001).

Conclusions: 1. Increased serotoninemia in women with fibro-cystic changes of the breasts in comparison with healthy women supports the role of this monoamine in the development of the disease. 2. The positive correlation between serotonin concentrations and the subtypes of fibro-cystic changes of the breast evidences the increase in the activity of serotoninergic system in these women with the progress of the changes.