Sex differences, season of birth and platelet 5-HT levels in schizophrenic patients.
Similar occurrence of schizophrenia was observed in men and women independent of their season of birth. Platelet 5-HT concentration was determined in 116 healthy control subjects (61 male and 55 female) and 152 patients with schizophrenia (96 male and 56 female). Platelet 5-HT concentration was significantly higher in male than in female healthy persons and schizophrenic patients. Male and female healthy subjects born in different seasons had similar platelet 5-HT concentrations, whereas schizophrenic patients with different birth-seasons had significantly different platelet 5-HT concentrations. The highest platelet 5-HT levels were observed in both male and female schizophrenic patients born in winter when compared to matched healthy controls. Male schizophrenic patients born in winter had higher platelet 5-HT levels than schizophrenic men born in spring and summer. Female schizophrenic patients born in winter had higher platelet 5-HT than schizophrenic women born in all other seasons. These results indicated sex differences in platelet 5-HT levels in healthy persons and schizophrenic patients. The relationship between season of the birth and platelet 5-HT concentration observed only in schizophrenic patients added further support to the presumption that schizophrenia is connected with a disturbance in the central serotoninergic system.
Mück-Seler
D
D
Laboratory for Molecular Neuropharmacology, Ruder Bosković Institute, Zagreb, Croatia.
Pivac
N
N
Jakovljević
M
M
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001792:Blood Platelets / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007743:Labor, Obstetric; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009994:Osmolar Concentration; D011247:Pregnancy; D012016:Reference Values; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000097:blood*; D012621:Seasons; D012701:Serotonin / Q000097:blood*; D012727:Sex Characteristics
D012701:Serotonin