Reduced neuropeptide Y concentrations in suicide brain.
Neuropeptide Y (NPY) was measured in postmortem brain tissue from victims of suicide and from individuals dying a sudden natural or accidental death (controls). Concentrations of NPY-immunoreactivity were measured by radioimmunoassay in frontal cortex (BA 10), temporal cortex (BA 22), caudate nucleus, and cerebellum. Concentrations of NPY-immunoreactivity were significantly lower in postmortem frontal cortex (-14%) and caudate nucleus (-27%) from suicide victims compared with age-matched controls. A subgroup of suicides with evidence of a history of depression revealed more robust reductions in concentrations of NPY-immunoreactivity in frontal cortex and caudate nucleus, as did four individuals who died from natural causes and also were described as having a possible history of depression. Concentrations of NPY-immunoreactivity in temporal cortex and cerebellum from victims of suicide or from the subgroup of subjects with a possible history of depression were not significantly different from those of age-matched controls. We suggest there is a deficit in the brain NPY system leading to region-specific reductions in peptide concentrations in subjects who have a history of depression.
Widdowson
P S
PS
Department of Psychiatry, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio.
Ordway
G A
GA
Halaris
A E
AE
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000375:Aging / Q000502:physiology; D000928:Antidepressive Agents / Q000378:metabolism / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001921:Brain / Q000378:metabolism*; D003863:Depression / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009478:Neuropeptide Y / Q000378:metabolism*; D009994:Osmolar Concentration; D013405:Suicide; D014018:Tissue Distribution
D000928:Antidepressive Agents; D009478:Neuropeptide Y