title: The platelet-poor plasma 5-HT response to carbohydrate rich meal administration in adult autistic patients compared with normal controls.
abstract: There are cumulative data indicating involvement of the 5-HT system in autistic disorder. Most studies examining 5-HT function have focused on whole blood 5-HT content. The carbohydrate-rich meal test (CRMT) is a dietary manipulation that could significantly influence platelet-poor plasma (PPP) 5-HT levels and reflect the responsiveness of the serotonergic system in 'free' plasma. In this study, CRMT was used as an indicator of 5-HT responsivity in drug-free adults with autistic disorder (n = 7), compared with normal controls (n = 10). The PPP 5-HT levels were measured at baseline and during 3 h after administration of the CRMT. A significant elevation in PPP 5-HT levels in adult autistic patients was reached 60 min after meal administration (p < 0.03 vs control and p = 0.05 vs baseline) and a significant decrease was noted after 120 min (p < 0.01 vs baseline). In contrast to the biphasic response of the autistic patients, normal controls exhibited a gradual linear increase of PPP 5-HT levels. Our results indicate that in adult autistic patients, the pattern of PPP 5-HT responsivity to a dietary challenge of CRMT is dysregulated compared with normal controls and provide further support for the role of 5-HT in autism.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Clinical Biochemistry, Tel Aviv Sourasky Medical Center, Tel Aviv, Israel.
authors.forename: Yaffa
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Vered
authors.forename: Pavel
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Golubchik
authors.forename: Tamar
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Mozes
authors.forename: Rael
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Strous
authors.forename: Allon
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Nechmad
authors.forename: Roberto
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Mester
authors.forename: Abraham
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Weizman
authors.forename: Baruch
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Spivak
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001321:Autistic Disorder / Q000097:blood*; D001792:Blood Platelets; D004040:Dietary Carbohydrates / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012701:Serotonin / Q000097:blood*
chemical_list: D004040:Dietary Carbohydrates; D012701:Serotonin