Functional distinction between serotonin uptake and serotonin-induced shape change receptors in rat platelets

Tyramine and dopamine are taken up by rat platelets through the serotonin uptake mechanism while phenethylamine is not taken up. This indicates that an aromatic hydroxyl group is a structural requirement for the uptake of phenethylamine derivatives by rat platelets. Although none of these phenethylamine derivatives induce platelet shape change, they inhibit serotonin-induced shape change and serotonin uptake with the same relative potency (tyramine greater than phenethylamine greater than or equal to dopamine). This suggests that the receptors controlling serotonin uptake and serotonin-induced shape change have a common structural component that binds phenethylamine derivatives. However, the fact that phenethylamine derivatives activate the serotonin uptake mechanism but do not induce platelet shape change suggests that serotonin uptake and serotonin-induced shape change are mediated by two distinct activation sites of serotonin receptors.