Beta-adrenoceptors in human pineal glands are unaltered in depressed suicides.

We have measured beta-adrenoceptor binding in pineal glands obtained at post mortem from suicides with a firm retrospective diagnosis of depression, and from age and gender-matched controls. In both antidepressant-free and antidepressant-treated suicides there were no significant differences in the number or affinity of beta-adrenoceptors compared to controls. Within the total group of subjects we found no variation in beta-adrenoceptor binding in relation to time of death or season of death. There was a significant negative correlation between the number of beta-adrenoceptors and age in controls, but not in suicides. These results suggest that pineal beta-adrenoceptors are not altered either in depression or as a result of antidepressant treatment.