Non-specific inhibition of imipramine binding argues against an endogenous ligand

Further evidence for the existence of endogenous serotonin uptake inhibitors and their purification by calmodulin affinity chromatography

Experimental evidence suggests the occurrence of endogenous antidepressant-like compounds in the brain, blood plasma, and urine. After extensive purification by calmodulin-sepharose affinity chromatography, and further purification of the urine-derived sample by exclusion chromatography, at least three distinctive fractions have been identified. These fractions effectively inhibited serotonin uptake, imipramine, and/or paroxetine binding, and they apparently contained some compounds that were recognized by the anti-imipramine or anti-paroxetine antibodies. Their identification may have significant implications for studies of affective illness.

Further studies on the endogenous serotonin-uptake-inhibitor-like substances in the human cerebrospinal fluid

The properties of endogenous substances that inhibit 5HT uptake in human cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) were investigated. Human CSF was loaded onto a Sephadex G-25 column, and each fraction was tested for its ability to inhibit [3H]paroxetine binding in monkey brain preparations. We found four different inhibitory peaks with respective molecular weights (M.W.) of > 12400, 2000 and two of < 1350. The third and fourth peaks (F-3, F-4: < 1350 M.W.) of inhibitory activity were determined to consist of some monoamines (5HT, etc.) or their metabolites (5HIAA, etc.) and other unidentified compounds by using an HPLC-electrochemical detector. The second peak (F-2, M.W. about 2000) displaced [3H]paroxetine binding noncompetitively (decreased Bmax and did not change Kd) and inhibited [3H]5HT uptake noncompetitively (decreased Vmax and did not change Km), but had no effect on either [3H]norepinephrine uptake or [3H]dopamine uptake. These results suggest that the endogenous substances that selectively inhibit 5HT uptake are present in human CSF as low molecular weight compounds.