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Lack of modulatory effect of short-term repeated electroconvulsive therapy on platelet vesicular monoamine transporter 2 (VMAT2) in depressed patients

  • Biological Psychiatry - Original Article
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Abstract

We investigated the effect of electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) on platelet vesicular monoamine-transmitter-transporter 2 (pVMAT2) using high-affinity [3H]dihydrotetrabenazine binding to platelet VMAT2 in 11 women and 7 men, aged 53.7 ± 15.8. The Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HAM-D) and the binding characteristic of pVMAT2 were assessed before and after six ECTs, administered over 21 days. A significant reduction (4.5 ± 0.46; 20.8%) was obtained in HAM-D scores (p < 0.01) following the ECTs. The pVMAT2 density (B max) and affinity values (K d) remained unaltered. Six ECTs are not sufficient for modulation in pVMAT2 expression. Long-term studies are needed to clarify the relationship between full remission and possible alterations in platelet/brain VMAT2 characteristics.

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Acknowledgments

The authors would like to thank Ms. Michaella Gerchak for editorial services.

Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Geha Mental Health Center, Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel

    Avi Valevski, Eran Pickholtz & Abraham Weizman

  2. Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel

    Neta Roz & Moshe Rehavi

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  1. Avi Valevski
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  2. Eran Pickholtz
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  3. Neta Roz
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  4. Abraham Weizman
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  5. Moshe Rehavi
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Correspondence to Avi Valevski.

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Valevski, A., Pickholtz, E., Roz, N. et al. Lack of modulatory effect of short-term repeated electroconvulsive therapy on platelet vesicular monoamine transporter 2 (VMAT2) in depressed patients. J Neural Transm 117, 881–885 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00702-010-0427-2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00702-010-0427-2

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