Pathophysiology of the Locus Coeruleus in Suicide (IN: The Neurobiology of Suicide: From the Bench to the Clinic, edited by D M Stoff & J J Mann)

The biochemistry of the locus coeruleus (LC) of the brain was studied. The LC is the principal source of brain epinephrine, and there is evidence suggesting that neurons here are involved in manifestations of depression. The LC of suicide victims & controls were compared. Higher levels of tyrosine hydroxylase were found in the suicide victims. Ordway hypothesizes that suicide victims experience chronic activation of the LC, resulting in depletion of synaptic norepinephrine. (85 refs.)