title: Influence of Altered Hormonal Status on Platelet 5-HT and MAO-B Activity in Cigarette Smokers.
abstract: The present study was designed to understand the cigarette smoking-induced alterations in hormones and the resulting changes in platelet serotonin (5-hydroxytryptamine, 5-HT) and monoamine oxidase (MAO-B) activity in chronic smokers. Human male volunteers aged 35 ± 8 years, were divided into two groups, namely controls and smokers (12 ± 2 cigarettes per day for 7-10 years). Results showed that cigarette smoking significantly (p < 0.05) elevated plasma triiodothyronine (T3), cortisol and testosterone levels with significant (p < 0.05) reduction in plasma tryptophan and thyroxin (T4). Moreover, smokers showed reduced platelet 5-HT levels and MAO-B activity. In smokers, plasma cortisol was negatively correlated with tryptophan (r = -0.386), platelet MAO-B (r = -0.264), and 5-HT (r = -0.671), and positively correlated with testosterone (r = 0.428). However, testosterone was negatively correlated with platelet MAO-B (r = -0.315), and 5-HT (r = -.419) in smokers. Further, smokers plasma T3 levels were negatively correlated with platelet MAO-B (r = -0.398), and 5-HT (r = -0.541), whereas T4 levels were positively correlated with platelet MAO-B (r = 0.369), and 5-HT (r = 0.454). In conclusion, our study showed that altered testosterone and cortisol levels may aggravate behavior, mood disturbances and symptoms of depression by decreasing platelet 5-HT and MAO-B activity in smokers.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry, Sri Krishnadevaraya University, Anantapur, 515-003 AP India.
authors.forename: Pannuru
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Padmavathi
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Pritzker School of Medicine, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL 60637 USA.
authors.forename: Vaddi Damodara
authors.initials: VD
authors.lastname: Reddy
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry, Sri Krishnadevaraya University, Anantapur, 515-003 AP India.
authors.forename: Kodidela
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Swarnalatha
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry, Sri Krishnadevaraya University, Anantapur, 515-003 AP India.
authors.forename: Reddyvari
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Hymavathi
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry, Sri Krishnadevaraya University, Anantapur, 515-003 AP India.
authors.forename: N Ch
authors.initials: NCh
authors.lastname: Varadacharyulu
keywords: 5-hydroxytryptamine; Behaviour; Cigarette smoking; Hormones; MAO-B activity