Increased density of the platelet serotonin transporter in autism.
Pharmacopsychiatry
; 33(5): 165-8, 2000 Sep.
Article
in En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-11071017
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND:
Various data have shown the involvement of serotonin (5-HT) in autism. The presence of the 5-HT transporter in platelets, similar to the same structure located in presynaptic serotonergic neurons, has produced a series of studies aimed at assessing its functionality in this disorder, but the ensuing findings are quite controversial. For this reason, we investigated the 5-HT transporter by means of the specific binding of [3H]-Paroxetine ([3H]-Par), which is currently considered the first-choice ligand for labeling it, in platelets of 20 autistic children and adolescents, as compared with healthy control subjects.METHODS:
Twenty children and adolescents of both sexes suffering from autism according to DSM IV criteria were included in the study and compared with a similar group of healthy control subjects. Platelet membranes and the binding of [3H]-Par were carried out according to standardized protocols.RESULTS:
The results showed a significantly higher density of [3H]-Par binding sites in autistic children than in healthy control subjects.CONCLUSIONS:
These findings support the presence of a serotonergic dysfunction in autism and would suggest that the 5-HT transporter may have a specific role in this disorder, also in the light of its recently proposed role in brain development.
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Collection:
01-internacional
Database:
MEDLINE
Main subject:
Membrane Transport Proteins
/
Autistic Disorder
/
Blood Platelets
/
Membrane Glycoproteins
/
Carrier Proteins
/
Nerve Tissue Proteins
Limits:
Adolescent
/
Child
/
Child, preschool
/
Female
/
Humans
/
Male
Language:
En
Journal:
Pharmacopsychiatry
Year:
2000
Document type:
Article
Affiliation country:
Italy