[H-3] RACLOPRIDE BINDING TO BRAIN-TISSUE FROM SUBJECTS WITH SCHIZOPHRENIA - METHODOLOGICAL ASPECTS

The binding of [H-3]raclopride to particulate membrane and frozen sect ions (with quantitative autoradiography) from the caudate-putamen, obt ained at autopsy from schizophrenic and non-schizophrenic subjects, wa s measured. The affinity of [H-3]raclopride to particulate membrane wa s significantly decreased in the schizophrenic compared to non-schizop hrenic subjects. The density of [H-3]raclopride binding to tissue from subjects with schizophrenia was increased, unchanged or decreased dep ending on the methodology used. Finally, there was an age-dependent de crease in [H-3]raclopride binding in the frozen sections from the caud ate-putamen of the non-schizophrenic subjects. This age-dependent decr ease was not apparent using particulate membrane from schizophrenic or non-schizophrenic subjects or tissue sections from the schizophrenic subjects. We conclude that the binding of [H-3]raclopride is dependent on methodology and therefore data from in vitro and in vivo studies u sing this drug should be interpreted with caution. (C) 1997 Elsevier S cience Ltd.