3H-Rauwolscine binding in platelets from depressed patients and healthy volunteers

3H-Rauwolscine binds specifically and with high affinity to alpha 2-adrenoceptors in human platelets. In a study comparing the binding of 3H-rauwolscine in platelets obtained from 26 control volunteers with 19 hospitalised, untreated, severely depressed patients, the mean maximal binding (Bmax) and mean dissociation constant (Kd) of 3H-rauwolscine binding were found to be identical in both groups. After 7-12 days, treatment with different tricyclic antidepressant drugs there was a significant improvement in the depressive symptoms but no change in the 3H-rauwolscine binding. After an average of 23 days treatment with tricyclic antidepressants, and when the Hamilton Depression Rating Scores had returned to normal, the Kd and Bmax of 3H-rauwolscine binding were still unchanged.