Platelet serotonin, plasma cortisol, and dexamethasone suppression test in schizophrenic patients.
BACKGROUND
Serotonin (5-HT) regulates hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis activity. Abnormal response to the dexamethasone suppression test (DST) and altered platelet 5-HT concentration have been shown in some schizophrenic patients.


METHODS
Platelet 5-HT and plasma cortisol concentrations were determined simultaneously in 86 male schizophrenic patients before and after DST. Basal plasma cortisol and platelet 5-HT levels were also determined in 69 healthy male persons.


RESULTS
Schizophrenic patients had higher plasma cortisol and platelet 5-HT concentrations than healthy persons. An abnormal escape from dexamethasone suppression was observed in 50% of patients. In these patients predexamethasone cortisol and platelet 5-HT concentrations were higher than in patients with normal DST.


CONCLUSIONS
This study demonstrates that schizophrenic patients have the HPA axis dysregulation that could be connected with a disturbance in the 5-HT system.
Mück-Seler
D
D
Laboratory for Molecular Neuropharmacology, Ruder Bosković Institute, Zagreb, Croatia.
Pivac
N
N
Jakovljević
M
M
Brzović
Z
Z
D000328:Adult; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D015415:Biomarkers; D001792:Blood Platelets / Q000737:chemistry; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D003907:Dexamethasone; D005938:Glucocorticoids; D006801:Humans; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000097:blood*; D007030:Hypothalamo-Hypophyseal System / Q000503:physiopathology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010913:Pituitary-Adrenal System / Q000502:physiology*; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000097:blood / Q000503:physiopathology*; D012701:Serotonin / Q000097:blood*
D015415:Biomarkers; D005938:Glucocorticoids; D012701:Serotonin; D003907:Dexamethasone; D006854:Hydrocortisone