Organochalcogens affect the glutamatergic neurotransmission in human platelets

Blood platelets have repeatedly been suggested as an excellent model for various aspects of the synaptic apparatus. Considering that organochalcogens affect some parameters of glutamatergic neurotransmission in rats, in the current study we evaluated the effect of diphenyl diselenide (PhSe)(2), diphenyl ditelluride (PhTe)(2), and Ebselen on glutamatergic neurotransmission in human platelets. (PhTe)(2) and (PhSe)(2) caused a significant inhibition, but Ebselen did not interfere in Na-independent glutamate binding. Dithiothreitol (DTT) did not completely prevent the [H-3] glutamate binding inhibition caused by 100 muM (PhTe)(2). (PhSe)(2), (PhTe)(2), and Ebselen (100 muM) significantly inhibited [H-3] glutamate uptake, whereas organochalcogens at 1 and 10 muM had no significant effect on the [H-3] glutamate uptake in human platelets. In this study, platelets were demonstrated to be a suitable model for neurotoxicological research, and, to the best of our knowledge, this is the first report documenting the toxic effects of organochalcogens in human platelets.