Altered brain protein kinase C in depression: a post-mortem study.
[(3)H]Phorbol 12,13-dibutyrate (PDBu) binding was measured in soluble and particulate fractions of frontal cortex and hippocampus from suicides, with a firm retrospective diagnosis of depression, and individually matched controls. Suicides were divided into those who had been free of antidepressant drugs for at least 3 months and those in whom prescription of antidepressants was clearly documented. In frontal cortex, there was a significantly higher number (by 75%) of [(3)H]PDBu binding sites in the soluble fraction in antidepressant-free suicides compared to controls; significant differences were also seen in the proportion of sites in the soluble and particulate fractions. Higher numbers of [(3)H]PDBu binding sites in the particulate fraction of hippocampus in antidepressant-free suicides was restricted to those who died by violent means. No significant differences in the number of [(3)H]PDBu binding sites were found in antidepressant-treated suicides compared to controls. This study provides evidence for the involvement of protein kinase C in the pathophysiology of depression.
Coull
M A
MA
Department of Pharmacology and Clinical Pharmacology, St. George's Hospital Medical School, SW17 ORE, London, UK.
Lowther
S
S
Katona
C L
CL
Horton
R W
RW
D000928:Antidepressive Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D001665:Binding Sites; D003863:Depression / Q000201:enzymology*; D005260:Female; D006624:Hippocampus / Q000201:enzymology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D015240:Phorbol 12,13-Dibutyrate / Q000494:pharmacology; D011180:Postmortem Changes; D017397:Prefrontal Cortex / Q000201:enzymology; D011493:Protein Kinase C / Q000032:analysis*; D013405:Suicide
D000928:Antidepressive Agents; D015240:Phorbol 12,13-Dibutyrate; D011493:Protein Kinase C