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Serotonin uptake in blood platelets of psychiatric patients

Journal Article · · Arch. Gen. Psychiatr.; (United States)

Platelet serotonin (5-HT) uptake was determined in 72 newly admitted, unmedicated psychiatric patients. Decreased maximum velocity (Vmax) of 5-HT uptake was present in unipolar and bipolar depressed patients as well as schizoaffective depressed patients. The apparent Michaelis constant (km) of 5-HT uptake was normal in these groups, as was Vmax and Km in manic-depressive and chronic schizophrenic patients. Treatment of depressed patients with notriptyline hydrochloride or imipramine hydrochloride increased Km significantly. There was a trend for the increase in Km in the nortriptyline-treated patients to correlate with clinical improvement. Decreased 5-HT uptake in platelets provides additional evidence for the role of 5-HT in the pathophysiologic process of some forms of depression.

Research Organization:
Department of Psychiatry, Pritzker School of Medicine, University of Chicago
OSTI ID:
5504171
Journal Information:
Arch. Gen. Psychiatr.; (United States), Journal Name: Arch. Gen. Psychiatr.; (United States) Vol. 38:12; ISSN ARGPA
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English