Monoamine transport in depression: kinetics and dynamics.

There appears to be an abnormality in monoamine transport in major depressive disorders that may be specific to these disorders, although it may not be primarily an aminergic lesion. Kinetic factors alone are insufficient to explain the observed effects of antidepressants on transport mechanisms, or changes in uptake with therapeutic response, suggesting dynamic influences on uptake processes that deserve further exploration. The investigation of these influences may indicate that platelet 5-HT uptake offers diagnostic and theoretical possibilities not adverted to at present and another rationale for the use of platelets in research on mental disorders.