Citation

Ballesteros J, Maeztu AI, Callado LF, Meana JJ, Gutiérrez M. Eur. Neuropsychopharmacol. 2008; 18(1): 55-61.

Affiliation

University of the Basque Country, Department of Neuroscience, Barrio Sarriena s/n, 48940-Leioa, Spain. javier.ballesteros@ehu.es

Copyright

(Copyright © 2008, Elsevier Publishing)

DOI

10.1016/j.euroneuro.2007.05.001

PMID

17570647

Abstract

Previous studies have reported negative findings for the association among brain monoamine oxidase B (MAO-B) and suicidal behaviour. However those studies did not adequately control their main results for the influence of confounding variables such as age at death. We have evaluated the association of MAO-B density (assessed by [3H]Ro 19-6327 - lazabemide - binding) with type of death (suicide victims vs non-suicide controls) after controlling for age at death. Frontal cortex samples from 43 subjects (21 suicides, 22 controls) were assayed for MAO-B density at a single concentration of lazabemide (8 nM). A linear regression modelling approach comparing nested models resulted with both type of death (p<0.05) and age of death (p<0.01) as main explanatory variables for the variability of MAO-B density. Suicide victims had >30% more binding sites for lazabemide than controls. Contrary to previous reports, MAO-B density seems to increase in suicide victims.

Language: en