@article{ref1,
title="Alpha 2-adrenoceptors in the brain of suicide victims: increased receptor density associated with major depression",
journal="Biological psychiatry",
year="1992",
author="Meana, J. J. and Barturen, F. and García-Sevilla, J. A.",
volume="31",
number="5",
pages="471-490",
abstract="To examine directly in the brain the status of the alpha 2-adrenoceptor in major depression, the specific binding of the agonists [3H]clonidine and [3H]UK 14304 was quantitated in various brain regions of suicide victims with a retrospective diagnosis of depression or other psychiatric disorders. In depressed suicides, the binding capacity of [3H]clonidine was found to be increased in the hypothalamus (Bmax 35%-55% greater), and to a lesser extent in the frontal cortex, as compared with that in matched controls, schizophrenic suicides, or suicides with various diagnosis. The binding capacity of [3H]UK 14304 also was found increased in the frontal cortex (Bmax 30% greater), and to a lesser extent in the hypothalamus, of depressed suicides. In other brain regions such as the amygdala, hippocampus, and cerebellum there also was a tendency for an increased receptor density associated with suicide. Moreover, in the frontal cortex of suicides, the potency of norepinephrine in displacing the binding of the antagonist [3H]idazoxan also was found increased (Ki decreased eight-fold). The results indicate that the density and affinity of alpha 2A-adrenoceptors in the high-affinity state are increased in the brain of depressed suicides.<p /> <p>Language: en</p>",
language="en",
issn="0006-3223",
doi="",
url="http://dx.doi.org/"
}