title: Serotonin transporter characteristics in lymphocytes and platelets of male aggressive schizophrenia patients compared to non-aggressive schizophrenia patients.
abstract: A large body of literature indicates that disturbances of central serotonin (5-HT) function play an important role in aggressive behavior. Results from open-label and placebo-controlled trials as well as the reported inverse relationship between 5-HT function and aggression in human subjects, suggest that reduced 5-HT activity is associated with aggressive behavior. The activity of the 5-HT transporter (5-HTT), as determined by [(3)H]5-HT uptake to blood lymphocytes, was measured in 20 currently aggressive and 20 non-aggressive male schizophrenia patients. In addition, the pharmacodynamic characteristics of platelet 5-HTT were assessed by [(3)H]citalopram binding. There were no significant differences in the density (B(max)) of platelet [(3)H]citalopram binding sites between the two groups. Similarly, the dissociation constant (K(d)) values were indistinguishable. The maximum uptake velocity (V(max)) of [(3)H]5-HT to fresh lymphocytes and the K(m) values of the 5-HT to the transporter were significantly higher in currently aggressive compared to the non-aggressive schizophrenia patients. The association of high V(max) values with current aggressive behavior provides further support to the involvement of the 5-HTT in aggressive behavior as well as to the efficacy of 5-HTT blockers in the control of aggression. The role of the various components of the serotonergic system in the pathophysiology and treatment of aggressive behavior in schizophrenia needs to be further evaluated.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel.
authors.forename: Tal
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Barkan
authors.forename: Avi
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Peled
authors.forename: Ilan
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Modai
authors.forename: Peretz
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Barak
authors.forename: Abraham
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Weizman
authors.forename: Moshe
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Rehavi
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000374:Aggression; D001792:Blood Platelets / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D008214:Lymphocytes / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000097:blood*; D012701:Serotonin / Q000378:metabolism; D050486:Serotonin Plasma Membrane Transport Proteins / Q000097:blood*; D014316:Tritium / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D050486:Serotonin Plasma Membrane Transport Proteins; D014316:Tritium; D012701:Serotonin