Lower Cortical Beta-Adrenoceptor Binding Sites in Postmortem Samples From Depressed Suicide Victims

This article reports the findings of a study that quantitated total and beta-adrenoceptor binding sites in three cortical areas from suicides, in whom a firm retrospective diagnosis of depression was established and who were not receiving antidepressant drugs, and matched controls. Saturation binding of 3HCGP 12177 to well-washed membranes from frontal, occipital and temporal cortex was performed. The findings contrast markedly with previous reports of increased frontal cortical beta-adrenoceptors in suicides. (3 refs)