Blood platelet uptake of serotonin in men alcoholics

Blood platelet uptake of 3H-serotonin (5HT uptake) was determined in a group of inpatient alcoholics who had just undergone detoxication (N = 19) and an age-matched group of nonalcoholic controls (N = 19). Mean 5HT uptake was 18% lower in the alcoholics (p less than .01). A 3-min 5HT uptake of less than 6 pmoles/10(7) platelets identified 58% of the alcoholics, but only 15% of the controls had a 5HT uptake lower than this value. These results support the hypothesis that serotonergic dysfunction may exist in alcoholics.