3H]paroxetine binding is altered in the hippocampus but not the frontal cortex or caudate nucleus from subjects with schizophrenia

[3H]Paroxetine binding to particulate membrane from tissue, obtained at autopsy, from the hippocampus, frontal cortex, and caudate nucleus from subjects who had or had not had schizophrenia was measured. The density of [3H]paroxetine binding to membranes from subjects who had or had not had schizophrenia did not differ. Similarly, the affinity of [3H]paroxetine binding in the frontal cortex and caudate nucleus was not different. By contrast, the affinity of [3H]paroxetine binding to hippocampal membrane from subjects who had schizophrenia was significantly lower than the affinity of binding for the nonschizophrenic subjects (0.40 +/- 0.06 vs. 0.26 +/- 0.02; p < 0.05). As [3H]paroxetine binds to the serotonin transporter, these data suggest that the serotonin transporter is altered in the hippocampus in subjects with schizophrenia.     

Tidal turbines harness the power of the sea

Just as there were once 10?000 windmills across Europe, countless water mills helped power the rural economy and then the industrial revolution. And, just as reinforced plastics have supported the 21st century reincarnation of windmills as wind turbines, so they are beginning to contribute to the next likely large-scale commercial renewable energy source - water current power. George Marsh reports.     

Forceful measures

Extensive testing of the mechanical properties of composite materials is required to qualify them for various applications. George Marsh reviews some of the methods available to determine properties such as strength, impact resistance and fatigue behaviour.