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Updated: Aug 23, 2026

Alternative Methods for the Detection of Superoxide Anion Generation in Platelets
Published on: March 29, 2024
Organochalcogens affect the glutamatergic neurotransmission in human platelets
V C Borges1, C W Nogueira, G Zeni
1Departamento de Química, Centro de Ciencias Naturais e Exatas, Universidade Federal de Santa Maria, Santa Maria, CEP 97105-900, RS, Brazil.
Abstract:
Blood platelets have repeatedly been suggested as an excellent model for various aspects of the synaptic apparatus. Considering that organochalcogens affect some parameters of glutamatergic neurotransmission in rats, in the current study we evaluated the effect of diphenyl diselenide (PhSe)2, diphenyl ditelluride (PhTe)2, and Ebselen on glutamatergic neurotransmission in human platelets. (PhTe)2 and (PhSe)2 caused a significant inhibition, but Ebselen did not interfere in Na-independent glutamate binding. Dithiothreitol (DTT) did not completely prevent the [3H]glutamate binding inhibition caused by 100 microM (PhTe)2. (PhSe)2, (PhTe)2, and Ebselen (100 microM) significantly inhibited [3H]glutamate uptake, whereas organochalcogens at 1 and 10 microM had no significant effect on the [3H]glutamate uptake in human platelets. In this study, platelets were demonstrated to be a suitable model for neurotoxicological research, and, to the best of our knowledge, this is the first report documenting the toxic effects of organochalcogens in human platelets.
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