UPTAKE OF SEROTONIN BY HUMAN-PLATELETS AND ITS RELEVANCE TO CNS INVOLVEMENT IN HYPERTENSION

The central serotonergic neurones seem to have important regulatory function on the cardiovascular system. Since human blood platelets and serotonin (5-HT) containing neurones in the central nervous system have numerous similarities, the uptake of serotonin by human platelets was investigated in normal subjects and in patients of essential hypertension. The 5-HT content of platelets as well as 5-HT uptake by the platelets were significantly reduced in hypertensive subjects as compared to control. It appears that a deficiency of serotonin centrally may lead to disinhibition of the serotonergic mechanisms leading to hypertension. Moreover, a decreased activity of serotonergic neurones may co-exist with an over-activity of catecholaminergic neurones in essential hypertension, which is discussed. This is probably the first report of altered serotonin mechanism in clinical hypertension. © 1979.