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Blood Platelet Uptake of Serotonin in Men Alcoholics

Thomas A. Kent, Jan L. Campbell, Thomas L. Pazdernik, Robert Hunter, Walter H. Gunn, Donald W. Goodwin

Blood platelet uptake of ³H-serotonin (5HT uptake) was determined in a group of inpatient alcoholics who had just undergone detoxication ( N = 19) and an age-matched group of nonalcoholic controls ( N = 19). Mean 5HT uptake was 18% lower in the alcoholics ( p < .01). A 3-min 5HT uptake of < 6 pmoles\/10 7 platelets identified 58% of the alcoholics, but only 15% of the controls had a 5HT uptake lower than this value. These results support the hypothesis that serotonergic dysfunction may exist in alcoholics.