title: Density of imidazoline receptors in platelets of euthymic patients with bipolar affective disorder and in brains of lithium-treated rats.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Platelet imidazoline receptors have been shown to be up-regulated in patients with unipolar major depression. This study examines the status of imidazoline receptor proteins in platelets of euthymic bipolar patients and in brains of lithium-treated rats.
  
  
  METHODS
  Platelets were collected from 12 bipolar patients (lithium-treated or drug-free) and brains from chronic lithium-treated rats. Imidazoline receptors were quantitated by immunoblotting, using a specific antiserum, and/or radioligand binding.
  
  
  RESULTS
  No changes in platelet imidazoline receptors (35-kDa and 45-kDa proteins) were found. Lithium treatment did not alter brain imidazoline receptors (29/30-kDa, 45-kDa, and 66-kDa proteins or density/affinity of [3H]-idazoxan binding sites).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Imidazoline receptor proteins are not altered in platelets of euthymic patients with bipolar affective disorder.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, Medical School, University of Geneva, Switzerland.
authors.forename: J A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: García-Sevilla
authors.forename: P V
authors.initials: PV
authors.lastname: Escribá
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ozaita
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Walzer
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Guimón
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000818:Animals; D018692:Antimanic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001714:Bipolar Disorder / Q000097:blood* / Q000523:psychology; D001792:Blood Platelets / Q000378:metabolism*; D015153:Blotting, Western; D001923:Brain Chemistry / Q000187:drug effects*; D002462:Cell Membrane / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D002540:Cerebral Cortex / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D019204:GTP-Binding Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D007093:Imidazoles / Q000097:blood*; D054755:Imidazoline Receptors; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D008094:Lithium / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008297:Male; D011869:Radioligand Assay; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D011955:Receptors, Drug / Q000097:blood*; D013950:Thymus Gland / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D018692:Antimanic Agents; D007093:Imidazoles; D054755:Imidazoline Receptors; D011955:Receptors, Drug; D008094:Lithium; D019204:GTP-Binding Proteins