Solubilization and characterization of [3H]imipramine and [3H]paroxetine binding sites from calf striatum

The serotonin (5-HT) transporter from calf striatum cerebral membranes was solubilized with digitonin and characterized by gel exclusion chromatography. [3H]Imipramine and [3H]paroxetine were utilized as markers for labeling it. 3H-imipramine labels a high- and a low-affinity site on striatum membranes, whereas it binds to a single high-affinity site on the solubilized fraction. [3H]Paroxetine binds with the same affinity to a single site on both membranes and solubilized preparations. After gel exclusion chromatography of the solubilizate both [3H]imipramine and [3H]paroxetine bind on an identical fraction of 205 kDa molecular weight, with a similar maximum number of binding sites (Bmax). Our results suggest that both 3H-imipramine and [3H]paroxetine bind to a common site on the 5-HT transporter.