title: Decreased lymphocyte dopamine transporter in romantic lovers.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The role of dopamine (DA) in romantic love is suggested by different evidence and is supported by the findings of some brain imaging studies. The DA transporter (DAT) is a key structure in regulating the concentration of the neurotransmitter in the synaptic cleft. Given the presence of DAT in blood cells, the present study aimed to explore it in resting lymphocytes of 30 healthy subjects of both sexes in the early stage of romantic love (no longer than 6 months), as compared with 30 subjects involved in a long-lasting relationship.
  
  
  METHODS
  All subjects had no physical or psychiatric illness. The DAT was measured by means of the [3H]-WIN 35,428 binding and the [3H]-DA reuptake to resting lymphocytes membranes. Romantic love was assessed by a specific questionnaire developed by us.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The results showed that the subjects in the early phase of romantic love had a global alteration of the lymphocyte DAT involving both a decreased number of proteins (Bmax) and a reduced functionality (Vmax).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Taken together, these findings would indicate the presence of increased levels of DA in romantic love that, if paralleled by similar concentrations in the brain, would explain some peculiar features of this human feeling.
authors.affiliation: 1Dipartimento di Medicina Clinica e Sperimentale,Section of Psychiatry,University of Pisa,Pisa,Italy.
authors.forename: Donatella
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Marazziti
authors.affiliation: 1Dipartimento di Medicina Clinica e Sperimentale,Section of Psychiatry,University of Pisa,Pisa,Italy.
authors.forename: Stefano
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Baroni
authors.affiliation: 2Dipartimento di Farmacia,University of Pisa,Pisa,Italy.
authors.forename: Gino
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Giannaccini
authors.affiliation: 1Dipartimento di Medicina Clinica e Sperimentale,Section of Psychiatry,University of Pisa,Pisa,Italy.
authors.forename: Armando
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Piccinni
authors.affiliation: 1Dipartimento di Medicina Clinica e Sperimentale,Section of Psychiatry,University of Pisa,Pisa,Italy.
authors.forename: Federico
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Mucci
authors.affiliation: 1Dipartimento di Medicina Clinica e Sperimentale,Section of Psychiatry,University of Pisa,Pisa,Italy.
authors.forename: Mario
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Catena-Dell'Osso
authors.affiliation: 1Dipartimento di Medicina Clinica e Sperimentale,Section of Psychiatry,University of Pisa,Pisa,Italy.
authors.forename: Grazia
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Rutigliano
authors.affiliation: 1Dipartimento di Medicina Clinica e Sperimentale,Section of Psychiatry,University of Pisa,Pisa,Italy.
authors.forename: Gabriele
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Massimetti
authors.affiliation: 1Dipartimento di Medicina Clinica e Sperimentale,Section of Psychiatry,University of Pisa,Pisa,Italy.
authors.forename: Liliana
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Dell'Osso
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D050483:Dopamine Plasma Membrane Transport Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008149:Love; D008214:Lymphocytes / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D050483:Dopamine Plasma Membrane Transport Proteins
keywords: 428 binding romantic love; [3H]-Dopamine reuptake; [3H]-WIN 35; dopamine; dopamine transporter; resting lymphocytes