Release-regulating 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) autoreceptors in the rat brain belong to the 5-HT1B subtype. On the other hand, the human brain seems to lack 5-HT1B receptors. In the present work 5-HT autoreceptors present in human brain were characterized pharmacologically. Synaptosomes prepared from biopsy samples of human neocortex were labeled with [3H]5-HT and exposed in superfusion to selective 5-HT receptor agonists and antagonists during K+ depolarization. The rank order of potency of agonists as inhibitors of the [3H]5-HT overflow was 5-HT > sumatriptan (5-HT1D/1B) > 8-hydroxy-2-(di-n-propylamino)tetralin (5-HT1A/1D) >> 1-(2,5-dimethoxy-4-iodophenyl)-2-aminopropane HCl (5-HT2/1C). The effect of 5-HT was insensitive to ketanserin (5-HT2) but antagonized by methiothepin (5-HT1/2) or by metergoline (5-HT1C/1D). The data are compatible with a classification of the human 5-HT autoreceptor as being of the 5-HT1D subtype.

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1 Release-regulating a2-autoreceptors in human brain were characterized pharmacologically in cortical slices from patients undergoing neurosurgery to remove subcortical tumours; the slices were prelabelled with [3H]-noradrenaline ([3H]-NA) and stimulated electrically (3 Hz, 2 ms, 24 mA) under superfusion conditions.2 The stimulus-evoked tritium overflow was almost totally Ca2"-dependent and tetrodotoxin-sensitive. 8 Desipramine (1 fLM) increased evoked tritium overflow from human cortex slices. The effect of clonidine (0.01-1 g1M) on the evoked overflow of tritium was reduced in presence of 1 JLM desipramine. 9 It is proposed that autoregulation of NA release can occur in human cerebral cortex. The process involves activation of a2-adrenoceptors which may be either the x2A or the a2D subtype.

A case of cervical juxtamedullary meningeal melanocytoma is presented along with results of careful neuroradiological and pathological examinations. The authors review the previous literature and discuss the problems related to the intriguing diagnosis of this very rare entity. CT and MRI show variable appearances due to different degrees of melanization and do not reliably allow us to distinguish meningeal melanocytomas from other pigmented tumors. Pathological examination of the tumor is critical for diagnosis, but it absolutely must comprise electron microscopy and immunohistochemistry. Immunohistochemical and ultrastructural criteria are thus proposed to distinguish meningeal melanocytoma from pigmented meningioma or schwannoma and malignant melanoma (primary or secondary).

in elderly patients, the development of hypopituitarism is often overlooked and the initial diagnosis of NFPM may be delayed. This can expose patients to the risks of unrecognized hypopituitarism and jeopardize post-surgical outcome.