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Updated: May 28, 2026

Dynamic Clamp Methods to Investigate Impaired Neuronal Excitability Associated with Autism
Published on: October 17, 2025
Brief report: Platelet-poor plasma serotonin in autism
George M Anderson1, Margaret E Hertzig, P A McBride
1Departments of Child Psychiatry & Laboratory Medicine, Yale University School of Medicine, 230 S Frontage Rd, New Haven, CT 06520, USA. george.anderson@yale.edu
Abstract:
Possible explanations for the well-replicated platelet hyperserotonemia of autism include an alteration in the platelet's handling of serotonin (5-hydroxyserotonin, 5-HT) or an increased exposure of the platelet to 5-HT. Measurement of platelet-poor plasma (PPP) levels of 5-HT appears to provide the best available index of in vivo exposure of the platelet to 5-HT. Mean (± SD) concentrations of PPP 5-HT observed in the autism (N = 18), hyperserotonemic subgroup (N = 5) and control (N = 24) groups were 0.86 ± 0.53, 0.87 ± 0.43 and 0.86 ± 0.36 nM, respectively. The results suggest that the hyperserotonemia of autism is not due to increased exposure of the platelet to 5-HT and make it more likely that the factor(s) contributing to the hyperserotonemia of autism have to do with the platelet's handling of 5-HT.
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