5-HT UPTAKE SITES AND 5-HT2 RECEPTORS IN BRAIN OF ANTIDEPRESSANT-FREESUICIDE VICTIMS DEPRESSIVES - INCREASE IN 5-HT2 SITES IN CORTEX AND AMYGDALA

The density (B(max)) of 5-HT2 receptors labelled with [H-3]ketanserin was significantly increased in prefrontal cortex (by 67%) and amygdala (by 97%) from suicide/depressives in comparison with controls. There were no differences in K(d) of [H-3]ketanserin binding between the two groups. The density (B(max)) and affinity (K(d)) of [H-3]paroxetine s ites were not significantly different in the suicide/depressives and c ontrols. The ratio between the density of presynaptic 5-HT uptake site s and postsynaptic 5-HT2 receptors in amygdala was significantly lower in suicide/depressives than in controls. The data confirm and extend some of the previous findings of increases in 5-HT2 receptors in post- mortem brains of suicide victims and depressives who died of natural c auses and lend support to the view that an abnormality in brain seroto nergic system is associated with depression and suicidal behaviour.