James A. Severson

Age‐Correlated Loss of Dopaminergic Binding Sites in Human Basal Ganglia

Abstract: Human caudate nucleus, putamen, substantia nigra, and nucleus accumbens were analyzed for the effects of age on dopaminergic binding sites. Decreases in the number of dopaminergic binding sites were detected with age in caudate nucleus (44 specimens from three sample groups) and substantia nigra (n = 12). In caudate nucleus, the decline in [3H]2‐amino‐6,7‐dehydroxy‐1,2,3,4‐tetrahydronaphthalene sites was three times greater than for [3H]spiperone, but age changes were significant in only two of the three sampling groups. No age changes in binding were detected in the putamen (n = 44) or nucleus accumbens. Age, sex, and tissue source all significantly contributed to variance. However, cause of death, time from death to tissue freezing, and length of storage did not influence dopaminergic binding in the caudate nucleus or putamen. Relative to the life‐span, the age‐correlated decrease in dopaminergic binding sites of human brain approximates that in aging rodent striatum. Comparisons of altered dopaminergic binding with other age‐correlated changes suggest that neuronal loss may not be involved in the loss of binding sites before midlife.

Reduced dopaminergic binding during aging in the rodent striatum

[3H]Spiroperidol and [3H]ADTN ( 2-amino-l,7-dihydroxy-1,2,3,4-tetra hydronaphthalene) binding were used to assay for dopamine receptors in aged C57BL/6J mouse striatal membranes. [3H]spiroperidol binding declined linearly with age starting at 3 months. By 28 months, spiroperidol binding was only about 50% of the 3 month value. Dissociation constants dissociation rates and binding inhibition by (+)-butaclamol (antagonist) and apomorphine (agonist) were similar, suggesting that the age-related loss of spiroperidol binding was due to a loss in receptor number and not an alteration in binding affinity. [3H]ADTN binding also declined with age, but the losses tended to be about twice as large as those seen for spiroperidol. Consideration of possible mechanisms of receptor loss with age indicate that nigrostriatal denervation effects cannot explain all aging changes in striatal dopaminergic functions. The loss of receptors with age may derive from a loss of striatal neurones on which residue a population of dopaminergic binding sites.

Elevated Density of [3H]Imipramine Binding in Aged Human Brain

Abstract: Aging was associated with an increase in the density of specific binding sites for [3H]imipramine in postmortem specimens of human hypothalamus, frontal cortex, and parietal cortex. In general, [3H]imipramine binding was not affected by factors considered difficult to control in postmortem studies, i.e., time from death to autopsy and cause of death. The in vitro regulation of [3H]imipramine binding by sodium was impaired with age in hypothalamic homogenates. In vitro regulation of [3H]imipramine binding by chloride was intact. Determination of the concentrations of 5‐hydroxytryptamine (serotonin) and 5‐hydroxyindoleacetic acid in hypothalamus and frontal cortex indicated no apparent age‐related changes in indole metabolism. The age‐related increase in brain [3H]imipramine binding and impairment in the in vitro regulation of binding by ions are similar to changes observed previously in aged mouse brain. The increase in brain antidepressant binding sites is discussed in relationship to other indices of brain serotonergic function in aging and to the relationship of [3H]imipramine binding and depression.

Platelet tritiated imipramine binding and MAO activity in Alzheimer's disease patients with agitation and delusions.

Decreased platelet 3H-imipramine binding density and decreased monoamine oxidase (MAO) activity have been considered as biological characteristics of several neuropsychiatric disorders, and may be related to central serotonin defects. Since serotonin system defects occur in Alzheimers disease (AD), and decreased brain 3H-imipramine binding density, and increased brain and platelet MAO activity are reported also, we studied platelet 3H-imipramine binding density (Bmax) and platelet MAO activity in AD outpatients without antecedent psychiatric disorder. AD subjects with significant symptomatic behavioral disorder, predominantly agitation and delusions, and AD subjects without symptomatic behaviors were compared with controls. Age, sex, mini-mental state examination score, and illness duration did not distinguish the two AD groups. The agitated/delusional group showed significantly lower Bmax values than uncomplicated AD subjects or controls. MAO activity was significantly increased among female AD subjects without symptomatic behaviors compared to those who were agitated or to controls. These results indicate that 3H-imipramine binding and MAO activity may distinguish AD subjects with agitation or delusions from those without symptomatic behaviors, and suggest the existence of a biologically based Alzheimers behavioral subtype.

Subdivision of mouse brain [3H]imipramine binding based on ion dependence and serotonin sensitivity.

The specific binding of [3H]imipramine to mouse brain membranes in an assay containing 120 mM NaCl and 5 mM KCl was similar in regional distribution and pharmacological specificity to that reported previously in rat and human brain. However, the absence of ions decreased the density of the specific binding of [3H]imipramine and did not affect the equilibrium dissociation constant. Sodium was the only cation, and halides were the only anions tested that enhanced the specific binding of [3H]imipramine. Chloride did not increase the density of binding in the absence of sodium. The ion‐sensitive binding of [3H]imipramine was regionally dependent and was highly correlated with the uptake of 5‐hydroxytryptamine (5‐HT, serotonin) into synaptosomes from brain regions. 5‐HT did not inhibit the binding of [3H]imipramine in the absence of ions. Antidepressants inhibited binding in the absence and presence of ions, but in the presence of ions inhibition curves were shifted to the left and the apparent complexity of inhibition was increased. Quantitative analysis of the inhibition of [3H]imipramine binding by antidepressants conducted in the presence of ions was consistent with two binding sites. Lesion of the serotonergic input to the cerebral cortex by 5,7‐dihydroxytryptamine suggested that both the 5‐HT‐sensitive and ion‐sensitive binding of [3H]imipramine were associated with serotonergic nerve terminals. [3H]Imipramine binding displaced by desipramine, but insensitive to 5‐HT and ions, was not affected by the lesion. Thus, the binding of [2H]imipramine that is displaced by desipramine, the most common assay for [3H]imipramine binding, includes a component that is not associated with brain serotonergic nerve terminals and 5‐HT uptake, and, in addition, a separable component that is highly correlated with serotonergic function. These data have important implications for studies of serotonergic neurons and for the interpretation of imipramine binding data.

Platelet [3H]Imipramine binding in generalized anxiety disorder, panic disorder, and agoraphobia with panic attacks

The density of platelet [3H]imipramine binding sites is reported to be decreased in unipolar depression and, hence, is a putative biological marker. There is considerable evidence for a phenomenological and biological relationship of panic disorder with affective disorder. We studied platelet [3H]imipramine binding site density in unmedicated subjects with generalized anxiety disorder (GAD; n = 55), panic disorder (PD) with and without agoraphobia (n = 52), and normal controls (n = 26) in order to determine whether or not patients with panic disorder differed from controls in this biological assay. We found no differences in binding site density (Bmax) or affinity (Kd) among the PD, PD with agoraphobia, GAD, and control groups. Nor did we find a relationship between Bmax or Kd and the severity of depressive symptoms or the presence of a family history of affective disorder. In view of two conflicting prior studies, the use of [3H]imipramine binding in panic disorder remains problematic.

Platelet 3H-imipramine binding in depressed elderly patients.

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Neuroleptic-induced striatal dopamine receptor supersensitivity in mice: Relationship to dose and drug

Clozapine and molindone administered to mice for 21 days did not elevate the density of striatal 3H-spiperone binding sites at doses clinically equivalent to 1.5 mg/kg haloperidol, which elevated binding by 29%. Thioridazine (25 mg/kg) elevated binding by 25%. It appears that clinically equivalent doses of clozapine and molindone have reduced ability to induce striatal D-2 dopamine receptor supersensitivity. These data are discussed in relationship to in vitro potencies and toxicity. The dose-response relationship of chronic haloperidol treatment and specific striatal 3H-spiperone binding was complex, i.e., binding was elevated at all doses, but the dose-response curve was concave upward. These data suggest that supersensitization is a complex interactive phenomenon comprised of elevation of striatal D-2 dopamine receptor density and other compensatory mechanisms.

Platelet monoamine oxidase activity in elderly depressed outpatients

Platelet monoamine oxidase (MAO) activity was assayed in 42 unmedicated, elderly, RDC depressed, unipolar outpatients over 60 years of age, 17 nondepressed controls, and 17 younger volunteers without psychiatric illness. Elderly depressed women (n = 22) had significantly higher MAO activity than sex- and age-comparable controls. No significant relationships between MAO activity and duration of current depressive episode, duration of illness, or family history of affective disorder were obtained. These results extend to elderly female outpatients the finding that depression is associated with increased platelet MAO activity, exceeding the normal age-related increase.

3H-imipramine binding in depressed elderly: Relationship to family history and clinical response

Platelet 3H-imipramine binding (Bmax) was determined in 34 elderly (mean age 64.8) unipolar depressed outpatients who were being treated with either nortriptyline or interpersonal psychotherapy for 10 to 16 weeks, and in nondepressed elderly controls. Bmax values were decreased in the depressed group. In addition, Bmax values were depressed further in subjects with a history of depression in first degree relatives. Good clinical response with either nortriptyline or psychotherapy was associated with lower Bmax compared to those subjects who had a poorer response to treatment. Treatment nonresponders and those with a negative family history of depression had Bmax values that were somewhat decreased but not significantly different from controls. This study extends to the elderly the potential applicability of platelet 3H-imipramine binding as a marker of depressive illness, and proposes a predictor for treatment response in elderly unipolar depressed patients.