Platelet serotonin level in rats is under genetic control.
It has recently been shown that platelet serotonin (5-hydroxytryptamine, 5HT) levels (PSL) in Wistar rats represent an individually stable biological parameter (neither subject to periodic oscillations nor markedly influenced by sex and age) that shows a unimodal frequency distribution within the population (range: 1.2-2.2 micrograms 5HT/mg platelet protein). To investigate the genetic background of PSL, selective breeding for the extreme values of this trait was performed. In the fourth generation, two discrete sublines of animals (statistically different from the unselected population) with constitutionally high or low PSL could be discerned: one with congenitally low PSL (1.1-1.6 micrograms 5HT/mg platelet protein; approximately normal distribution) and the other with congenitally high PSL (1.6-2.9 micrograms 5HT/mg platelet protein; irregular distribution). No difference in the pattern of inheritance between sexes could be discerned. The results demonstrated a marked heritable component underlying the expression of individual values of PSL in rats, suggesting that this parameter is a trait characteristic.
Jernej
B
B
Department of Experimental Biology and Medicine, Ruder Boskovic Institute, Zagreb, Yugoslavia.
Cicin-Sain
L
L
D000818:Animals; D001792:Blood Platelets / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D005787:Gene Frequency / Q000235:genetics; D005819:Genetic Markers / Q000032:analysis; D008297:Male; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains; D011985:Receptors, Serotonin / Q000235:genetics*; D012641:Selection, Genetic; D012701:Serotonin / Q000097:blood*; D013045:Species Specificity
D005819:Genetic Markers; D011985:Receptors, Serotonin; D012701:Serotonin