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DOI: 10.1055/s-2006-931477
Common Alterations in the Serotonin Transporter in Platelets and Lymphocytes of Psychotic Patients
Publication History
Received: 20.12.2004
Revised: 9.9.2005
Accepted: 11.10.2005
Publication Date:
02 February 2006 (online)
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Introduction: Given the controversial data concerning the role of the serotonin (5-HT) transporter in psychosis, our study was aimed to investigate this structure by means of the measurements of the re-uptake kinetics and of the protein density, in both platelets and lymphocytes of 25 out- and inpatients with different psychotic disorders. Methods: Diagnoses, according to DSM-IV criteria, were bipolar 1 disorders with mood incongruent psychotic features (14), mixed states (7) and schizophrenia (4). Twenty-five matched healthy subjects were also selected as the control group. Platelet and lymphocyte membranes were prepared according to standardized protocols, as were the [3H]5HT re-uptake and [3H]paroxetine ([3H]Par) binding. Results: The results of this study showed a decreased density of the [3H]Par binding sites coupled with a reduced velocity of [3H]5-HT re-uptake in both platelets and lymphocytes of psychotic patients, as compared with healthy control subjects. Conclusion: These findings would suggest a general abnormality of the 5-HT system in psychotic patients, probably not confined only to the brain.
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Dr. Donatella Marazziti
Dipartimento di Psichiatria, Neurobiologia, Farmacologia e Biotecnologie
University of Pisa
via Roma 67
56100 Pisa
Italy
Phone: +39 050 835412
Fax: +39 050 21581
Email: dmarazzi@psico.med.unipi.it