MK4MDD

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Study Report

Reference

Citation	Zucker, 2002 PubMed
Full Info	Zucker, M., Aviv, A., Shelef, A., Weizman, A. and Rehavi, M. (2002) Elevated platelet vesicular monoamine transporter density in untreated patients diagnosed with major depression. Psychiatry Res, 112, 251-256.

Study

Hypothesis or Background	The intraneuronal uptake of monoamines into brain synaptic vesicles is mediated by the vesicular monoamine transporter (VMAT2). This transporter plays a major role in monoamine storage and quantal release. Recently we demonstrated a high degree of similarity between the pharmacodynamic characteristics of platelet and brain VMAT2.
Sample Information	untreated patients diagnosed with major depressive disorder (MDD) (n=10; three with recurrent depression and seven with first episode depression) compared to sex- and age-matched healthy control subjects (n=23).
Method Detail	In the present study we measured the VMAT2 density, using [3H]dihydrotetrabenazine ([3H]TBZOH) as a ligand, in platelets of untreated patients diagnosed with major depressive disorder (MDD) (n=10; three with recurrent depression and seven with first episode depression) compared to sex- and age-matched healthy control subjects (n=23).
Method Keywords	blood analysis
Result	A significant elevation in the VMAT2 density (B(max)) was observed in the platelets of untreated MDD patients (+24%) compared to healthy control subjects. No significant change was found in the affinity constant (K(d)).
Conclusions	The increased platelet VMAT2 density may reflect depression-related enhancement of the capacity to accumulate monoamines in the vesicles in the presence of lower monoamine turnover.

Relationships reported by Zucker, 2002