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High affinity [3H]imipramine and [3H]paroxetine binding sites in suicide brains

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Summary

Specific binding of [3H]imipramine and [3H]paroxetine was simultaneously examined in human brains (frontal cortex, temporal cortex, cingulate cortex, hypothalamus, hippocampus and amygdala) from 11 controls and 11 depressed suicide victims. A single saturable high affinity site was obtained for both radioligands. Age was not related to significant changes in [3H]imipramine and [3H]paroxetine binding parameters, which indicates the stability of the brain serotonergic system with increasing age.

A major finding of the present study concerns the existence of a significant decrease in the maximum number (Bmax) of [3H]imipramine binding sites in hippocampus from depressed suicides as compared with the control group, without changes in the binding affinity (Kd). In contrast, when [3H]paroxetine was used as radioligand, no changes in either Bmax or Kd were detected in any of the brain regions studied. These findings suggest that [3H]imipramine may be a better marker than [3H]paroxetine when alterations in the presynaptic serotonergic uptake site are to be detected.

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  1. P. Rosel

    Present address: Hormone Unit (Biochemistry Department), Hospital Princeps D'Espanya, Barcelona, Spain

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Hormone Unit (Biochemistry Department), Hospital Princeps D'Espanya, Barcelona, Spain

    B. Arranz, M. Oros & M. A. Navarro

  2. Department of Psychiatry, Hospital Princeps D'Espanya, Barcelona, Spain

    J. Vallejo, J. M. Menchón & P. Alvarez

  3. Benito Menni, CASM, Barcelona, Spain

    B. Arranz

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  1. P. Rosel
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Rosel, P., Arranz, B., Vallejo, J. et al. High affinity [3H]imipramine and [3H]paroxetine binding sites in suicide brains. J. Neural Transmission 104, 921–929 (1997). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01285560

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01285560

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