Citation

Lowther S, Katona CL, Crompton MR, Horton RW. Brain Res. 1997; 758(1-2): 223-228.

Copyright

(Copyright © 1997, International Brain Research Organization, Publisher Elsevier Publishing)

DOI

10.1016/s0006-8993(97)00232-1

PMID

9203552

Abstract

Saturation binding of [3H]cAMP to the regulatory subunit of cAMP-dependent protein kinase (PKA) was measured in the soluble fraction of brain samples, obtained at post-mortem, from suicides with a firm retrospective diagnosis of depression and individually matched controls. Suicides were subdivided into those who had been free of antidepressant drugs for at least 3 months and those in whom prescription of antidepressants was clearly documented. In antidepressant-free suicides, we found no significant differences in the number or affinity of [3H]cAMP binding sites in the five regions studied. In antidepressant-treated suicides however, Bmax values were lower in all regions, reaching statistical significance in parietal cortex and amygdala. Kd values for antidepressant-treated suicides were significantly higher in parietal cortex, temporal cortex and amygdala. These results suggest the regulatory subunit of PKA is unaltered in depression, but is influenced by antidepressant drugs.

Language: en

Keywords

Adult; Antidepressive Agents; Binding Sites; Brain; Cyclic AMP; Depressive Disorder; Female; Humans; Male; Radioligand Assay; Suicide; Tritium