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Serotonergic measures in suicide brain: 5-HT1A binding sites in frontal cortex of suicide victims

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Summary

The density of 5-HT1A binding using3H-8-hydroxy-2-(di-n-propylamino) tetralin (8-OH-DPAT) as binding ligand, was studied in human frontal cortex of suicide victims and normal controls who died due to medical disease or accidentally. There was no difference in the maximum number of binding site (Bmax) or Kd (an inverse measure of affinity) of 5-HT1A receptor binding sites between normal controls and the entire group of suicide victims. However, nonviolent suicides had significantly higher Bmax (22—25%) compared to both controls and violent suicides. A negative correlation between age and Bmax of 5-HT1A binding sites was found in male controls but not in female controls or suicide victims. This relationship was less apparent among the male controls over age 60.

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Author notes

  1. H. Y. Meltzer M.D.

    Present address: University Hospitals of Cleveland, Hanna Pavillion, Room B-68, 2040 Abington Road, 44106-5000, Cleveland, OH, USA

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Psychiatry, Hokkaido University School of Medicine, Hokkaido, Japan

    S. Matsubara

  2. Laboratory of Biological Psychiatry, Department of Psychiatry, Case Western Reserve University, School of Medicine, Cleveland, Ohio, USA

    R. C. Arora & H. Y. Meltzer M.D.

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  2. R. C. Arora
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Matsubara, S., Arora, R.C. & Meltzer, H.Y. Serotonergic measures in suicide brain: 5-HT1A binding sites in frontal cortex of suicide victims. J. Neural Transmission 85, 181–194 (1991). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01244944

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