title: Platelet serotonin measures in migraine.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Serotonergic mechanisms play an important role in the pathogenesis of headache. To search for potential indicators of altered serotonin homeostasis in migraine, we have investigated three parameters of the platelet serotonin (5HT) system, platelet serotonin level (PSL), platelet serotonin uptake (PSU), and monoamine oxidase (MAO-B) activity, in a group of 55 patients with migraine and in 81 healthy controls.
  
  
  METHODS
  After platelet separation, PSL was determined fluorimetrically; PSU was measured by incubating aliquots of platelet-rich plasma with six concentrations of 14C-5-HT for 60 seconds at 37 degrees C, followed by vacuum filtration; platelet MAO-B activity (toward kynuramine as a substrate) was determined fluorimetrically.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Values of the investigated measures, in patients versus controls, amounted to (mean +/- SD) 608 +/- 166 vs. 591 +/- 184 ng/10(9) platelets for PSL, 139 +/- 25 vs. 142 +/- 25 pmol 5HT/10(8) platelets/minute for Vmax of PSU, 376 +/- 62 vs. 404 +/- 72 nM for Km of PSU, and 15.8 +/- 5.1 vs. 14.3 +/- 5.7 nmol product/10(8) platelets/60 minutes for velocity of MAO-B. Mentioned parameters did not show statistical differences between patients and controls, with exception of a small difference in Km of PSU, reaching significance (P<0.01). After subgrouping of patients according to diagnosis (migraine with aura, migraine without aura, and migraine attack) and gender, no differences retained significance.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our results indicate the absence of a measurable disturbance in 5HT homeostasis in migraine, as shown by platelet 5HT parameters, and they question the suitability of the use of mentioned blood elements in this regard.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Neurochemistry and Molecular Neurobiology, Rudjer Boskovic Institute, Bijenicka 54, Zagreb, Croatia.
authors.forename: Branimir
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Jernej
authors.forename: Anton
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Vladić
authors.forename: Lipa
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Cicin-Sain
authors.forename: Dubravka
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Hranilović
authors.forename: Miroslav
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Banović
authors.forename: Melita
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Balija
authors.forename: Ervina
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Bilić
authors.forename: Zvonimir
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Sucić
authors.forename: Stjepan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Vukadin
authors.forename: Damir
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Grgicević
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001792:Blood Platelets / Q000737:chemistry / Q000201:enzymology / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008881:Migraine Disorders / Q000097:blood* / Q000378:metabolism; D008995:Monoamine Oxidase / Q000378:metabolism; D012701:Serotonin / Q000097:blood* / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D012701:Serotonin; D008995:Monoamine Oxidase