Caudate nucleus dopamine D(2) receptors in depressed suicide victims.
Several lines of evidence indicate the involvement of the dopamine system in depressive states. In this post-mortem study, the binding of [(3)H]raclopride to dopamine D(2) receptors in the caudate nucleus was investigated in 13 depressed suicide victims and 19 controls. There were no differences in B(max) or K(d) between the two groups. A subgroup consisting of individuals with major depression, however, had significantly higher K(d) values than controls. Previous findings regarding changes in dopamine metabolism in depression and antidepressant effects of dopamine agonists seem, according to the present study, not to be reflected by alterations in density or affinity of dopamine D(2) receptors in depressed suicide victims.
Allard
P
P
Department of Clinical Science, Division of Psychiatry, Geriatric Medicine, Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden. per.allard@psychiat.umu.se
Norlén
M
M
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001923:Brain Chemistry; D002421:Caudate Nucleus / Q000378:metabolism*; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000378:metabolism*; D018492:Dopamine Antagonists; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007700:Kinetics; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D020891:Raclopride; D011869:Radioligand Assay; D017448:Receptors, Dopamine D2 / Q000378:metabolism*; D013405:Suicide
D018492:Dopamine Antagonists; D017448:Receptors, Dopamine D2; D020891:Raclopride