Sodium-magnesium exchange in erythrocyte membranes from patients with affective disorders.
The Vmax of erythrocyte sodium-magnesium exchange was measured for the first time in 63 patients suffering from affective disorders and compared to that in 33 healthy subjects. Depressed patients had a significantly higher Vmax (215 +/- 13 vs. 151 +/- 14 mumol/l.cells/h; p < 0.005; mean +/- SEM). This tendency was conserved after division of the 63 patients into three clinical subgroups according to the DSM-III-R criteria. Thirty-four patients from this panel were divided into three subgroups according to the chemical class of the antidepressant drug used and were followed up during a 3-month period of drug treatment. Mood improvement over the 3-month period was associated with a slow increase in Vmax of Na/Mg exchange (delta increase approximately 25 mumol/l.cells/h), except in the subgroup of patients treated with non-tricyclic antidepressants (n = 8). These results are consistent with the previously reported link between high erythrocyte magnesium content and affective disorders. Indeed, enhanced Na/Mg exchange Vmax, which probably results from an increased number of transport units per cell, contributes to the normalization of red blood cell magnesium content correlated with mood improvement.
Widmer
J
J
Institutions Universitaires de Psychiatrie de Genève, Switzerland.
Féray
J C
JC
Bovier
P
P
Hilleret
H
H
Raffin
Y
Y
Chollet
D
D
Gaillard
J M
JM
Garay
R
R
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000928:Antidepressive Agents / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002352:Carrier Proteins / Q000097:blood*; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000097:blood* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000523:psychology; D004910:Erythrocyte Membrane / Q000378:metabolism*; D004912:Erythrocytes / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007700:Kinetics; D008274:Magnesium / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D012964:Sodium / Q000097:blood*
D000928:Antidepressive Agents; D002352:Carrier Proteins; D012964:Sodium; D008274:Magnesium