Reduced platelet tritium-labeled imipramine binding sites in women with premenstrual syndrome.
OBJECTIVE
We studied the possible role of serotonergic systems in the cause of premenstrual affective symptoms.


METHODS
The binding of tritium-labeled imipramine to platelets is thought to parallel central nervous system binding and to indicate serotonergic activity. We measured platelet tritium-labeled imipramine binding sites in the follicular and luteal phases in 12 controls and in 9 women with well-documented late luteal phase dysphoric disorder. In statistical analyses we used repeated measures analysis of variance, with Student-Newman-Keuls and Duncan's one-tailed t tests, and Pearson's r.


RESULTS
The values of subjects with late luteal phase dysphoric disorder were lower than those of controls (F [1,39] = 5.13, p = 0.03). Both follicular and luteal phase level were lower in subjects with late luteal phase dysphoric disorder but reached statistical significance only in the follicular phase.


CONCLUSIONS
Lower platelet tritium-labeled imipramine binding in women with late luteal phase dysphoric disorder supports the hypothesis that alteration of central serotonergic systems may contribute to premenstrual dysphoric symptoms.
Steege
J F
JF
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC 27710.
Stout
A L
AL
Knight
D L
DL
Nemeroff
C B
CB
D000328:Adult; D001665:Binding Sites; D001792:Blood Platelets / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007099:Imipramine / Q000378:metabolism*; D011293:Premenstrual Syndrome / Q000097:blood*; D014316:Tritium
D014316:Tritium; D007099:Imipramine