3H-spiroperidol binding to human peripheral mononuclear cells: methodological aspects.

3H-spiroperidol binding to lymphocytes has been proposed as a vulnerability marker for schizophrenia. However, the biological significance and even existence of this "binding site" are still in controversy. Therefore, the present study reevaluated methodological details using a filtration binding assay. The results indicated that some well-known, but obviously uncontrolled pitfalls might contribute to this controversy [e.g., unspecific filter binding, which increased in the presence of (+)-butaclamol, or a variable amount of contaminating granulocytes). Moreover, due to an atypically shaped saturation curve, different mathematical methods to analyze the data were used and compared. The present data should help us to understand the biological relevance of this marker, as viewed in different laboratories.