Abstract
The active uptake of serotonin (5-HT) by blood platelets of 20 schizophrenic patients and their families was studied. The uptake was studied over a wide range of 5-HT concentrations (0.1–20μM), and K m and V max of the uptake process were calculated. Of 20 patients, 18 exhibited a lower rate of uptake than the family average at 5-HT concentrations lower than the K m value. At a 5-HT concentration of 0.1 μM, the average 5-HT uptake of patients was 2.15 pmol/108 platelets/min, while that of families was 2.99 pmol/108 platelets/min (33% difference). At a high 5-HT concentration, only the drug-treated patients had lower V max than the family average, and this might be attributed to the effect of the drugs. K m of patients and families were very similar. In eight families, one or more of the family members showed 5-HT uptake patterns very similar to that of the patient. We termed these healthy family members “schizophrenic risks”. Our findings indicate the involvement of some genetic factors in this disease.
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Rotman, A., Zemishlany, Z., Munitz, H. et al. The active uptake of serotonin by platelets of schizophrenic patients and their families: Possibility of a genetic marker. Psychopharmacology 77, 171–174 (1982). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00431943
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00431943