Sex differences, season of birth and platelet 5-HT levels in schizophrenic patients

• Published in: Journal of Neural Transmission Vol. 106; no. 3-4; pp. 337 - 347
• Main Authors: Mück-Seler, D, Pivac, N, Jakovljević, M
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Austria 01.01.1999
• Subjects: Adolescent; Adult; Blood Platelets - metabolism; Female; Humans; Labor, Obstetric; Male; Middle Aged; Osmolar Concentration; Pregnancy; Reference Values; Schizophrenia - blood; Seasons; Serotonin - blood; Sex Characteristics
• ISSN: 0300-9564; 1435-1463
• DOI: 10.1007/s007020050163

Similar occurrence of schizophrenia was observed in men and women independent of their season of birth. Platelet 5-HT concentration was determined in 116 healthy control subjects (61 male and 55 female) and 152 patients with schizophrenia (96 male and 56 female). Platelet 5-HT concentration was significantly higher in male than in female healthy persons and schizophrenic patients. Male and female healthy subjects born in different seasons had similar platelet 5-HT concentrations, whereas schizophrenic patients with different birth-seasons had significantly different platelet 5-HT concentrations. The highest platelet 5-HT levels were observed in both male and female schizophrenic patients born in winter when compared to matched healthy controls. Male schizophrenic patients born in winter had higher platelet 5-HT levels than schizophrenic men born in spring and summer. Female schizophrenic patients born in winter had higher platelet 5-HT than schizophrenic women born in all other seasons. These results indicated sex differences in platelet 5-HT levels in healthy persons and schizophrenic patients. The relationship between season of the birth and platelet 5-HT concentration observed only in schizophrenic patients added further support to the presumption that schizophrenia is connected with a disturbance in the central serotoninergic system.