[Biochemical characterization and study by quantitative autoradiography of the binding sites of indalpine, a 5-HT uptake inhibitor, in cat brain].

The [3H]indalpine binding sites have been characterized in slide-mounted cat brain sections. This inhibitor of 5-HT reuptake binds with a very high affinity to sites which have the pharmacological properties of the serotonin carrier. These sites can, however, be differentiated from the [3H]imipramine binding sites by their Na+ dependency and competitive inhibition by serotonin. Quantitative autoradiographic studies demonstrate that indalpine binding sites are localized in structures rich in serotonergic neurons. The widespread distribution of indalpine binding sites in limbic and associative areas is consisted with its well characterized antidepressant activity in human.