Serotonin and amino acid content in platelets of autistic children.
The platelet levels of serotonin and the amino acids aspartic acid, glutamine, glutamic acid and gamma-aminobutyric acid were measured in 18 drug-free autistic (DSM-III criteria) and 14 age-matched healthy children. Serotonin was significantly increased while the amino acids aspartic acid, glutamine, glutamic acid and gamma-aminobutyric acid were significantly decreased in comparison with the controls. It is suggested that the decline of the amino acids in platelets from autistic children represents a biochemical marker related to infantile autism.
Department of Neurology, University of Münster, Germany.
L H
LH
Rolf
F Y
FY
Haarmann
K H
KH
Grotemeyer
H
H
Kehrer
D000293:Adolescent; D000596:Amino Acids / Q000097:blood*; D001224:Aspartic Acid / Q000097:blood; D001321:Autistic Disorder / Q000097:blood* / Q000175:diagnosis; D015415:Biomarkers; D001792:Blood Platelets / Q000737:chemistry*; D002648:Child; D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; D005260:Female; D005972:Glutaminase / Q000032:analysis / Q000097:blood; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012701:Serotonin / Q000097:blood*; D005680:gamma-Aminobutyric Acid / Q000097:blood
D000596:Amino Acids; D015415:Biomarkers; D001224:Aspartic Acid; D012701:Serotonin; D005680:gamma-Aminobutyric Acid; D005972:Glutaminase