ISSN:
1471-4159
Source:
Blackwell Publishing Journal Backfiles 1879-2005
Topics:
Medicine
Notes:
Abstract: The α2A- and α2C-adrenoceptor subtypes were evaluated in postmortem brains from suicides with depression (n = 22), suicides with other diagnoses (n = 12), and controls (n = 26). Membrane assays with the antagonist [3H]RX821002 (2-[3H]methoxyidazoxan) suggested the presence of α2A-adrenoceptors in the frontal cortex and both α2C-adrenoceptors and α2A-adrenoceptors in the caudate. The proportions in caudate were similar in controls (α2A, 86%; α2C, 14%), depressed suicides (α2A, 91%; α2C, 9%), and suicides with other diagnoses (α2A, 88%; α2C, 12%). Autoradiography of [3H]RX821002 binding under α2B/C-adrenoceptor-masking conditions confirmed the similar densities of α2A-adrenoceptors in the cortex, hippocampus, and striatum from controls and suicides. In the frontal cortex of depressed suicides, competition of [3H]RX821002 binding by (−)-adrenaline revealed a greater proportion (61 ± 9%) of α2A-adrenoceptors in the high-affinity conformation for agonists than in controls (39 ± 5%). Simultaneous analysis with the agonists [3H]clonidine and [3H]UK14304 and the antagonist [3H]RX821002 in the same depressed suicides confirmed the enhanced α2A-adrenoceptor density when evaluated by agonist, but not by antagonist, radioligands. The results indicate that depression is associated with a selective increase in the high-affinity conformation of the brain α2A-adrenoceptors.
Type of Medium:
Electronic Resource
URL:
http://dx.doi.org/10.1046/j.1471-4159.1998.70031114.x
Permalink