The authors evaluated high-affinity [3H]imipramine binding and
[3H]serotonin uptake to platelets in eight adolescent and 10 adult patients
who met DSM-III criteria for obsessive-compulsive disorder in comparison
with those of normal control subjects of similar ages. The maximal binding
of [3H]imipramine was significantly lower in adults and adolescents with
obsessive-compulsive disorder than in the control subjects. No differences
between groups in the affinity of [3H]imipramine to its binding sites or in
serotonin uptake kinetic measures were detected. The lower density of
[3H]imipramine binding sites in platelet membrane in patients with
obsessive-compulsive disorder might implicate involvement of the
serotonergic system or might represent an adaptive response to a chronic
disease.Abstract Teaser