Study Report
Reference
| Citation | Ordway, 2003 PubMed |
| Full Info | Ordway, G.A., Schenk, J., Stockmeier, C.A., May, W. and Klimek, V. (2003) Elevated agonist binding to alpha2-adrenoceptors in the locus coeruleus in major depression. Biol Psychiatry, 53, 315-323.
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Study
| Hypothesis or Background |
Recent postmortem studies demonstrate disrupted neurochemistry of the noradrenergic locus coeruleus (LC) in major depression (MD). Increased levels of tyrosine hydroxylase and decreased levels of norepinephrine transporter implicate a norepinephrine deficiency in the LC in MD. Here we describe a study of alpha2-adrenoceptors in the LC and raphe nuclei of subjects with MD compared with psychiatrically normal control subjects.
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| Sample Information | 14 control and 14 MD subjects |
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| Method Detail | The specific binding of p-[125I]iodoclonidine to alpha2-adrenoceptors was measured at multiple levels along the rostrocaudal extent of the LC in postmortem tissue from 14 control and 14 MD subjects. In addition, p-[125I]iodoclonidine binding was measured in the dorsal and median raphe nuclei in the same tissue sections. |
| Method Keywords | postmortem study |
| Result | The specific binding of p-[125I]iodoclonidine to alpha2-adrenoceptors was significantly elevated throughout the LC from MD compared with matched control subjects. No significant differences were observed in p-[125I]iodoclonidine binding to alpha2-adrenoceptors in the raphe nuclei comparing MD and control subjects. |
| Conclusions | Given that alpha2-adrenoceptors are upregulated in laboratory animals by treatment with drugs that deplete norepinephrine, our findings implicate a premortem deficiency of brain norepinephrine in the region of the locus coeruleus in subjects with MD. |
Relationships reported by
Ordway, 2003
| Component A Approved Name (Name in Paper) |
Component A Type |
Component B Approved Name (Name in Paper) |
Component B Type |
Statistical Result |
Relationship Description |
Result Category (Positive/Negative)) |
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MDD
|
syndrome |
Locus coeruleus (locus coeruleus) |
brain morphology and function |
|
The specific binding of p-[125I]iodoclonidine to alpha2-adrenoceptors was significantly elevated throughout the LC (locus coeruleus) from MD (major depression) compared with matched control subjects. |
Positive
|
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MDD
|
syndrome |
Alpha-2A adrenergic receptor (alpha2-adrenoceptor) |
protein |
|
The specific binding of p-[125I]iodoclonidine to alpha2-adrenoceptors was significantly elevated throughout the LC (locus coeruleus) from MD (major depression) compared with matched control subjects. |
Positive
|
|
MDD
|
syndrome |
Raphe nuclei (raphe nuclei) |
brain morphology and function |
|
No significant differences were observed in p-[125I]iodoclonidine binding to alpha2-adrenoceptors in the raphe nuclei comparing MD and control subjects. |
Negative
|
