Unchanged density of caudate nucleus dopamine uptake sites in depressed suicide victims

Abstract

In depressive states, theories concerning serotonin and norepinephrine have been dominating, but there are several lines of evidence indicating the involvement of the dopamine system as well, especially in suicidal depression. In this post-mortem study, the binding of the ligand [3H]WIN 35,428 to dopamine uptake sites in the caudate nucleus was investigated in 13 depressed suicide victims and 19 controls. There were no differences in Bmax or Kd between the suicide group and controls. Subdividing the suicide group into subgroups regarding the presence of major depression, antidepressant medication and suicide method, respectively, did not yield any differences. Previous findings regarding reduced CSF HVA in suicidal depression and indications of striatal dopaminergic biochemical and receptor changes in depression seem, according to the present study, not to be reflected by alterations in density or affinity of dopamine uptake sites in depressed suicide victims.

Toward a Biosignature for Suicide

“…Suicide studies have examined dopamine receptors (131-133) and metabolites (134, 135) and growth hormone (GH) response to apomorphine (129), but only some found any association (129, 134, 135). A retrospective study of GH response to apomorphine in depressed inpatients found that suicide victims had lower mean GH peak responses compared with depressed patients who did not die by suicide, suggesting a potential role of the D 2 receptor (129).…”

Caudate Nucleus Dopamine D₂ Receptors in Depressed Suicide Victims

“…In a previous work, we studied the number and affinity in the caudate nucleus of the presynaptic dopaminergic reuptake site in suicidal depression, using the tritiated form of 2ß-carbomethoxy-3ß-(4-fluorophenyl)tropane (WIN 35,428) as radioligand. No significant changes in binding parameters were observed, suggesting that the DA terminals in this region were intact [7].…”

“…The suicide and control groups have previously been described [7]. In brief, the suicide group consisted of brains from 13 individuals, 10 men and 3 women, with a mean age of 51 B 4.4 years (mean B SEM; range 25-80 years).…”

Endocannabinoid lipids and mediated system: Implications for alcoholism and neuropsychiatric disorders

“…The CB 1 receptor is co-expressed and functionally interacts with dopamine and serotonin receptors in limbic structures (Hermann et al, 2002;Glass and Felder, 1997). The dysfunction in the striatal serotoninergic and dopaminergic system in the etiology of mood and psychotic disorders has been reported (Allard, 2001;Zangen et al, 2001). CB 1 receptors are highly expressed in CNS regions that are innervated by dopamine-releasing neurons (Herkenham et al, 1991a,b).…”