Platelet alpha 2-adrenergic receptors in major depressive disorder. Binding of tritiated clonidine before and after tricyclic antidepressant drug treatment

Journal Article · Tue Dec 01 00:00:00 EST 1981 · Arch. Gen. Psychiatr.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1001/archpsyc.1981.01780370029003· OSTI ID:5346543

Garcia-Sevilla, J A; Zis, A P; Hollingsworth, P J; Greden, J F; Smith, C B

The specific binding of tritiated (3H)-clonidine, an alpha 2-adrenergic receptor agonist, to platelet membranes was measured in normal subjects and in patients with major depressive disorder. The number of platelet alpha 2-adrenergic receptors from the depressed group was significantly higher than that found in platelets obtained from the control population. Treatment with tricyclic antidepressant drugs led to significant decreases in the number of platelet alpha 2-adrenergic receptors. These results support the hypothesis that the depressive syndrome is related to an alpha 2-adrenergic receptor supersensitivity and that the clinical effectiveness of tricyclic antidepressant drugs is associated with a decrease in the number of these receptors.

• Research Organization: Department of Pharmacology, The University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor
• OSTI ID: 5346543
• Journal Information: Arch. Gen. Psychiatr.; (United States), Vol. 38:12
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

62 RADIOLOGY AND NUCLEAR MEDICINE
59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
ADRENALINE
RECEPTORS
MENTAL DISORDERS
PATHOGENESIS
BLOOD PLATELETS
PATIENTS
SENSITIVITY
TRACER TECHNIQUES
TRANQUILIZERS
TRITIUM COMPOUNDS
ADRENAL HORMONES
AUTONOMIC NERVOUS SYSTEM AGENTS
BIOLOGICAL MATERIALS
BLOOD
BLOOD CELLS
BODY FLUIDS
CARDIOTONICS
CARDIOVASCULAR AGENTS
CENTRAL NERVOUS SYSTEM AGENTS
DRUGS
HORMONES
ISOTOPE APPLICATIONS
LABELLED COMPOUNDS
MATERIALS
NEUROREGULATORS
PSYCHOTROPIC DRUGS
STEROID HORMONES
SYMPATHOMIMETICS
550601* - Medicine- Unsealed Radionuclides in Diagnostics
551001 - Physiological Systems- Tracer Techniques