Dysfunction in alpha-adrenergic receptor systems has been implicated to be of etiologic significance in depressive illness. The alpha(2)-adrenergic ligand [H-3]clonidine labels at least two sets of binding sites in normal human prefrontal cortex. We now report that the lower affinity component of [H-3]clonidine binding is apparently absent in the prefrontal cortices of presumptive suicide victims.