Caudate Nucleus Dopamine D₂ Receptors in Depressed Suicide Victims

Several lines of evidence indicate the involvement of the dopamine system in depressive states. In this post-mortem study, the binding of [(3)H]raclopride to dopamine D(2) receptors in the caudate nucleus was investigated in 13 depressed suicide victims and 19 controls. There were no differences in B(max) or K(d) between the two groups. A subgroup consisting of individuals with major depression, however, had significantly higher K(d) values than controls. Previous findings regarding changes in dopamine metabolism in depression and antidepressant effects of dopamine agonists seem, according to the present study, not to be reflected by alterations in density or affinity of dopamine D(2) receptors in depressed suicide victims.