[Erythrocyte membrane transport of L-tyrosine and L-tryptophan in 66 patients with depressive syndromes. Preliminary results].

The transport of Tyrosine and Tryptophan by the membrane of red blood cells has been studied in a group of 66 depressed patients (DSM-III: 27 major depressions, single episode or recurrent; 17 bipolar disorders, depressed; 22 dysthymic disorders). Anomalies were observed: tyrosine transport was decreased in the bipolar disorders and in the major depressions; tryptophan transport was increased in the major depressions and in the dysthymic disorders. These results suggest that membrane transports are disturbed in depressed syndromes, and may be related to dysfunction in the monoaminergic balance.