5-HT1D and 5-HT1E/1F binding sites in depressed suicides: increased 5-HT1D binding in globus pallidus but not cortex.

5-HT1D and 5-HT1E/1F receptor binding sites were measured in brain samples obtained at postmortem from suicide victims with a firm retrospective diagnosis of depression, and matched controls. In antidepressant-free suicides a significantly higher number of 5-HT1D receptors was found in globus pallidus. This was largely restricted to those suicides who died by violent means. This effect was not observed in antidepressant-treated suicides. No differences or trends in 5-HT1D binding were found in putamen, parietal or frontal cortex, in antidepressant-free or antidepressant-treated suicides. There were no differences in the number of 5-HT1E/1F receptors in any of the regions studied.