Platelet alpha 2-adrenoceptors in major depression: relationship with urinary 4-hydroxy-3-methoxyphenylglycol and age at onset.
Platelet alpha 2-adrenoceptor number and affinity were measured in 31 drug-free patients with major depressive illness utilizing 3H-clonidine as ligand. A significant negative correlation was found between number of alpha 2-adrenoceptors, baseline urinary 4-hydroxy-3-methoxyphenylglycol (MHPG) excretion, present age and age at onset of the disease. Kd did not correlate with any of these variables not with the Bmax of platelet alpha 2-adrenergic binding. Multiple regression analysis, with MHPG and age at onset as independent variables, explained variance for alpha 2-adrenoceptor density better than single regression (from 19% for MHPG and 30% for age at onset to 40%), with the addition of both these variables being significant.
D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D001792:Blood Platelets / Q000032:analysis*; D003000:Clonidine; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D006018:Glycols / Q000652:urine*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008734:Methoxyhydroxyphenylglycol / Q000652:urine*; D008875:Middle Aged; D011869:Radioligand Assay; D011942:Receptors, Adrenergic, alpha / Q000097:blood*; D012044:Regression Analysis
D006018:Glycols; D011942:Receptors, Adrenergic, alpha; D008734:Methoxyhydroxyphenylglycol; D003000:Clonidine