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Serotonin transport kinetics correlated between human platelets and brain synaptosomes
Jeffrey L Rausch1, Maria E Johnson, Junqing Li
1Veterans Administration Hospital, Augusta, Augusta, GA 30912, USA. jeffreyr@mcg.edu
Psychopharmacology
|February 24, 2005
Summary
Platelet serotonin transporter (SERT) function correlates with brain SERT function, suggesting platelets may model brain serotonin transport in psychiatric research.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Biochemistry
- Psychiatry
Background:
- Blood platelets are a model for serotonin transporter (SERT) research in psychiatric disorders.
- The relationship between platelet and brain SERT function is not well understood.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the correlation between serotonin (5-HT) transport kinetics in human platelets and cortical brain synaptosomes.
- To determine if platelet SERT activity can serve as a reliable indicator of brain SERT activity.
Main Methods:
- Simultaneous measurement of 5-HT transport kinetics in platelets and cortical synaptosomes from 25 epilepsy surgery patients.
- Analysis of SERT V(max) and its correlation with confounding factors like gender and time of day.
Main Results:
- Platelet SERT V(max) significantly correlated with brain SERT V(max) (r=0.58, p<0.005) after controlling for gender and time of day.
- Platelet 5-HT transport V(max) showed a negative correlation with pO2 (r=-0.52, p<0.01).
- Unadjusted correlation between platelet and brain SERT V(max) was not significant (r=0.3, p=0.06).
Conclusions:
- A relationship exists between platelet and cortical synaptosome 5-HT transport.
- Platelets may serve as a viable model for brain SERT function, provided confounding factors are addressed.
- Further research is warranted to validate platelets as a biomarker for brain SERT activity.