title: Beta-adrenoceptors in human pineal glands are unaltered in depressed suicides.
abstract: We have measured beta-adrenoceptor binding in pineal glands obtained at post mortem from suicides with a firm retrospective diagnosis of depression, and from age and gender-matched controls. In both antidepressant-free and antidepressant-treated suicides there were no significant differences in the number or affinity of beta-adrenoceptors compared to controls. Within the total group of subjects we found no variation in beta-adrenoceptor binding in relation to time of death or season of death. There was a significant negative correlation between the number of beta-adrenoceptors and age in controls, but not in suicides. These results suggest that pineal beta-adrenoceptors are not altered either in depression or as a result of antidepressant treatment.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology and Clinical Pharmacology, St George's Hospital Medical School, London, UK.
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: De Paermentier
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Lowther
authors.forename: M R
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Crompton
authors.forename: C L
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Katona
authors.forename: R W
authors.initials: RW
authors.lastname: Horton
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000928:Antidepressive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010870:Pineal Gland / Q000378:metabolism*; D011943:Receptors, Adrenergic, beta / Q000378:metabolism*; D012621:Seasons; D013405:Suicide; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D000928:Antidepressive Agents; D011943:Receptors, Adrenergic, beta