The similarities between the serotonin (5-HT) transporter in both human platelets and human brain permit us to investigate this structure in patients with different psychiatric disorders. Several reports have shown abnormalities of the 5-HT transporter, by means of the measurement of the 5-HT uptake or of the H-3-imipramine binding, in platelets of patients with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). The availability of the ligand H-3-paroxetine, a selective 5-HT reuptake inhibitor, to label the 5-HT transporter, promoted us to evaluate the binding of H-3-paroxetine in platelets of 18 drug-free patients with OCD. The results, showing that the patients had a lower number of H-3-paroxetine sites, wich is inversely correlated with the Yale Brown Obsessive-Compulsive Scale total score, than a similar group of controls, add supporting evidence to the involvement of 5-HT in OCD. In addition, the decreased functionality of the 5-HT transporter seems to be linked to the severity of OC symptoms.
Decreased platelet H-3-paroxetine binding in obsessive-compulsive patients
ROSSI, ALESSANDRA;GIANNACCINI, GINO;LUCACCHINI, ANTONIO;
1996-01-01
Abstract
The similarities between the serotonin (5-HT) transporter in both human platelets and human brain permit us to investigate this structure in patients with different psychiatric disorders. Several reports have shown abnormalities of the 5-HT transporter, by means of the measurement of the 5-HT uptake or of the H-3-imipramine binding, in platelets of patients with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). The availability of the ligand H-3-paroxetine, a selective 5-HT reuptake inhibitor, to label the 5-HT transporter, promoted us to evaluate the binding of H-3-paroxetine in platelets of 18 drug-free patients with OCD. The results, showing that the patients had a lower number of H-3-paroxetine sites, wich is inversely correlated with the Yale Brown Obsessive-Compulsive Scale total score, than a similar group of controls, add supporting evidence to the involvement of 5-HT in OCD. In addition, the decreased functionality of the 5-HT transporter seems to be linked to the severity of OC symptoms.I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.
