Lack of modulatory effect of short-term repeated electroconvulsive therapy on platelet vesicular monoamine transporter 2 (VMAT2) in depressed patients.
We investigated the effect of electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) on platelet vesicular monoamine-transmitter-transporter 2 (pVMAT2) using high-affinity [(3)H]dihydrotetrabenazine binding to platelet VMAT2 in 11 women and 7 men, aged 53.7 +/- 15.8. The Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HAM-D) and the binding characteristic of pVMAT2 were assessed before and after six ECTs, administered over 21 days. A significant reduction (4.5 +/- 0.46; 20.8%) was obtained in HAM-D scores (p < 0.01) following the ECTs. The pVMAT2 density (B (max)) and affinity values (K (d)) remained unaltered. Six ECTs are not sufficient for modulation in pVMAT2 expression. Long-term studies are needed to clarify the relationship between full remission and possible alterations in platelet/brain VMAT2 characteristics.
Valevski
Avi
A
Geha Mental Health Center, Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel. valevski@gmail.com
Pickholtz
Eran
E
Roz
Neta
N
Weizman
Abraham
A
Rehavi
Moshe
M
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003865:Major Depressive Disorder / Q000097:blood* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000628:therapy*; D004565:Electroconvulsive Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D050493:Vesicular Monoamine Transport Proteins / Q000097:blood*; D055815:Young Adult
C493452:SLC18A2 protein, human; D050493:Vesicular Monoamine Transport Proteins