ROLE OF SEROTONIN IN HUMAN AGGRESSIVE-BEHAVIOR

This study aimed to evaluate a peripheral serotonergic marker, H-3-imi pramine (H-3-IMI) binding to platelet membranes, in a group of severel y aggressive subjects (A), institutionalized since childhood for menta l retardation, as compared with suicide attempters (S) and healthy con trols (H). The maximum binding capacity of H-3-IMI to platelet membran es was statistically lower in (A) and (S) than in (H). In addition, a statistically significant difference was observed between the Bmax val ues of aggressive subjects and those of suicide attempters. No changes in the dissociation constant (Kd) of IMI binding were observed. These data provide further supporting evidence for the hypothesis of an abn ormality of the 5HT system in aggressive behaviour and suggest that su ch an abnormality, as reflected by platelet markers, is more severe in suicide attempters. (C) 1993 Wiley-Liss, Inc.