title: Human platelet sulfotransferase shows seasonal rhythms.
abstract: Our study aimed to investigate the possible presence of seasonal changes in platelet phenolsulfotransferase (ST) in a group of 20 healthy, drug-free subjects of both sexes between 24 and 37 years of age. Blood samples were taken four times a year in the period immediately following the equinoxes and the solstices. The results showed that both Sts underwent seasonal changes: the lowest values were found in autumn and in winter, and the highest in the summer. A positive correlation between the two STs and the length of the photoperiod was observed in winter whereas in the spring we detected a negative correlation between the TL ST and the photoperiod length. Future studies should clarify whether platelet ST of patients with mood disorders shows a similar seasonality.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Psychiatry, University of Pisa, Italy.
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Marazziti
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Palego
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Mazzanti
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Silvestri
authors.forename: G B
authors.initials: GB
authors.lastname: Cassano
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D015239:Arylsulfotransferase / Q000097:blood*; D001792:Blood Platelets / Q000201:enzymology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D019964:Mood Disorders / Q000097:blood / Q000201:enzymology; D010507:Periodicity; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D012016:Reference Values; D016574:Seasonal Affective Disorder / Q000097:blood / Q000201:enzymology; D012621:Seasons
chemical_list: D015239:Arylsulfotransferase