Circadian studies of 5HT2 receptors: effects of clorgyline administration

This paper demonstrates the application of an assay design that is particularly valuable for estimating receptor number (Bmax values) and affinity (Kd values) in many small samples of tissue. It is illustrated by its application to a study of possible circadian rhythms in the numbers of 5HT2 receptors in the rat cerebral cortex. The assay design involves the use of only two radioligand concentrations, the lower one being close to Kd (estimated from pilot studies) and the upper one close to 4 times this concentration. The results show that chronic clorgyline (1 mg/kg/day/28 days) administration to rats results in an 18% decrease in the number of cortical 5HT2 receptors (as measured by specific [3H]ketanserin binding). There is no significant circadian rhythm in receptor number in either the control or the MAOI-treated group. There is however, evidence of co-variation between the pairs of control animals housed in the same cage, and interestingly, that this effect is abolished by treatment with the MAOI.