Effects of peripheral-type benzodiazepine receptors in platelet membrane on patients with depression after first attack of cerebral infarction

AIM：To evaluate the changes of peripheral-type benzodiazepine receptors (PBRs) in platelet membrane in post-stroke depression (PSD) patients and to investigate the effects of PBRs on PSD. METHODS：Forty-three patients with PSD, fifty-nine patients with first-ever cerebral infarction and fifty-six healthy volunteers participated in this study. Platelet membrane in venous blood was prepared. Binding assay of the radioactive PBRs antagonist ［3H］PK11195 to platelet membrane was performed. RESULTS：A significant difference of ［3H］PK11195 binding was found among the 3 groups (P<0.01). Compared with the healthy volunteers ［(298.2±25.1） pmol/(g protein)］, a highly significant increase in ［3H］PK11195 binding was observed in platelet membrane in the patients with first attack of cerebral infarction ［(1 410.8±41.4） pmol/(g protein), P<0.01］. Compared with the patients with first attack of cerebral infarction, a significant reduction in ［3H］PK11195 binding was detected in platelet membrane in the patients with PSD ［(361.7±30.6) pmol/(g protein), P<0.01］. In the patients with PSD, no significant difference of ［3H］PK11195 binding was found between men and women (P>0.05). ［3H］PK11195 binding was related to the score of Hamilton depression rating scale (r=-0.44, P<0.01) but not to the duration of cerebral infarction (r=0.27，P>0.05). CONCLUSION:PBRs binding activity in platelet membrane decreases in the patients with PSD and affects the degree of depression.