Andersson A, Adolfsson R, Eriksson K, Marcusson J
Department of Geriatric Medicine, University of Umeå, Sweden.
Neurobiol Aging. 1991 Sep-Oct;12(5):531-4. doi: 10.1016/0197-4580(91)90084-w.
Platelet serotonin (5-hydroxytryptamine, 5-HT) uptake sites were studied in a control group (n = 30) and an Alzheimer group (n = 40) using [3H]paroxetine as radioligand. The maximum number of binding sites (Bmax) for control (1250 +/- 60 fmol/mg protein) was not different from the Alzheimer group (1280 +/- 40 fmol/mg protein). There were no differences in apparent binding affinity (Kd): 0.046 (0.024-0.062) nM for control and 0.040 (0.027-0.061) nM for Alzheimer. Thus even though several previous studies have demonstrated marked atrophy of 5-HT containing neurites and 5-HT uptake sites in Alzheimer's disease, these findings are not found in the periphery on platelets. The platelet 5-HT uptake site cannot be used as a peripheral marker of Alzheimer's disease.
