%0 Journal Article
%@ 0302-282X
%A Marazziti, Donatella
%A Pietrini, Pietro
%A Martini, Claudia
%A Giannaccini, Gino
%A Perugi, Giulio
%A Placidi, Gian Franco
%A Cassano, Giovanni Battista
%A Lucacchini, Antonio
%D 1987
%F eprints:3323
%I Karger
%J Neuropsychobiology
%N 2
%P 74-76
%T A 3h-flunitrazepam binding inhibitor is present in psychiatric patients’sera
%U http://eprints.imtlucca.it/3323/
%V 18
%X We investigated the possible existence of endogenous compounds acting on benzodiazepine central receptors in the serum of patients with panic attacks or depression. Our results show the presence of a substance which inhibits the 3H-fiunitrazepam binding specifically in the samples taken from the patients’ groups, and which is not present in normal controls, in the range of concentrations used. This compound has a molecular weight below 1,000 daltons, is heat-stable, and resistant to proteolytic degradation. The demonstration of this inhibitor opens new perspectives in the study of the biochemistry of anxiety.