[(3)H]Tiagabine binding to GABA transporter-1 (GAT-1) in suicidal depression.
BACKGROUND
In depressive disorders, alterations of GABA concentrations and number of postsynaptic GABA related receptor binding sites, as well as antidepressant effects exerted by GABA agonists, suggest a pathogenetic involvement of the GABA system.


METHODS
The binding of the presynaptic GABA ligand [(3)H]tiagabine to GABA transporter-1 (GAT-1) was studied in post mortem human frontal cortex and cingulate gyrus from 13 suicide victims and 19 controls without known neurological or psychiatric disorder.


RESULTS
No differences were found between the suicide victims and the controls with regard to the number of [(3)H]tiagabine binding sites (B(max)) or apparent affinity (K(d)).


CONCLUSIONS
The study was limited to two brain regions.


CONCLUSIONS
Findings in other studies of alterations in the GABA system in depression seem according to the present results not to be associated with significant changes in the GABA uptake binding sites in the regions investigated.
Sundman-Eriksson
Ingrid
I
Division of Psychiatry, Department of Clinical Sciences, Umeå University, S-901 85 Umeå, Sweden. i_sundman@hotmail.com
Allard
Per
P
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001344:Autopsy; D002352:Carrier Proteins / Q000032:analysis* / Q000187:drug effects; D003863:Depression / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D018755:GABA Agonists; D050485:GABA Plasma Membrane Transport Proteins; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008565:Membrane Proteins / Q000032:analysis* / Q000187:drug effects; D026901:Membrane Transport Proteins; D008875:Middle Aged; D009557:Nipecotic Acids; D027361:Organic Anion Transporters; D013405:Suicide; D000078308:Tiagabine
D002352:Carrier Proteins; D018755:GABA Agonists; D050485:GABA Plasma Membrane Transport Proteins; D008565:Membrane Proteins; D026901:Membrane Transport Proteins; D009557:Nipecotic Acids; D027361:Organic Anion Transporters; C493413:SLC6A1 protein, human; D000078308:Tiagabine