Binding of tritiated yohimbine to platelets in women with maternity blues

Abstract

SynopsisPlatelet α2-adrenoceptor binding was measured in 108 women in the 36th week of pregnancy, at ten and twenty days and at three and six months post-partum. An age matched non-pregnant control group of women (N = 25) was also studied. The number Bmax) of α2-adrenoceptors was elevated antepartum but fell to control values on the tenth post-partum day. At three and six months post-partum, however, α2-adrenoceptor Bmax was again increased. Women who developed maternity blues (N = 59) had significantly more platelet α2-adrenoceptors than those who did not (N = 49) at both ten and twenty days post-partum. In addition their α2-adrenoceptor Bmax was greater than controls at all time points measured except the tenth post-partum day. In contrast, the α2-adrenoceptor Bmax of women without the blues did not differ from controls at any stage. It is suggested that women who develop maternity blues may have a relatively enduring abnormality in α2-adrenoceptor sensitivity which is associated with psychological symptoms when concentrations of circulating sex-steroids suddenly change.

Platelet α2-Adrenergic Receptors in Depressed Patients and Healthy Volunteers: The Effects of Desipramine

“…Furthennore, within our patient population, the women were older than the men, and it was only in the women that we were able to detect a trend towards higher values in binding parameters. Increased numbers of platelet fJ.radrenergic receptors have been reported following elevated levels of oestrogen and progesterone (Jones et al, 1983;Best et al, 1988;Metz et al, 1983;Reimann et al, 1987b) suggesting that in females, reproductive status as weil as age has to be taken into consideration. Further studies conducted in age and sex matched patient-control populations should address these variables.…”