GABA UPTAKE SITES IN FRONTAL-CORTEX FROM SUICIDE VICTIMS AND IN AGING

The binding of [H-3]nipecotic acid to GABA uptake sites was studied in post mortem human frontal cortex from 17 suicide victims and 21 contr ols without known neurological or psychiatric disorder. The suicide vi ctims were subclassified according to the use of violent or non-violen t methods and to the presence or absence of a known history of a depre ssive disorder. No difference was found between the suicide victims an d the controls with regard to [H-3]nipeotic acid binding to GABA uptak e sites (B-max) and apparent affinity (K-d). No differences were found either with regard to method of suicide or whether a depressive sympt om existed or not. The binding of [H-3]nipecotic acid to GABA uptake s ites was also studied in post mortem human frontal cortex with regard to aging. The age of the subjects ranged from 16 to 84 years. No signi ficant difference in either B-max or K-d was found. The present findin gs suggest that the GABA uptake sites in the human frontal cortex are not subjected to regulation or degenerative changes in conditions inve stigated.