Platelet serotonin uptake sites increased in drinkers of ayahuasca

The binding of [3H]citalopram to the platelet 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) transporter was measured in a group of healthy male drinkers of ayahuasca, a psychoactive sacrament indigenous to Amazonia, and a group healthy male controls. An increased number of binding sites (Bmax) in the platelets of ayah...

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Bibliographic Details
Published inPsychopharmacology Vol. 116; no. 3; p. 385
Main Authors Callaway, J C, Airaksinen, M M, McKenna, D J, Brito, G S, Grob, C S
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published Germany 01.11.1994
Subjects
Adult
Blood Platelets - metabolism
Brazil
Citalopram
Culture
Hallucinogens - pharmacology
Humans
Male
Middle Aged
Plants, Toxic - chemistry
Receptors, Serotonin - drug effects
Receptors, Serotonin - metabolism
Up-Regulation - drug effects
Brazil
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Summary:The binding of [3H]citalopram to the platelet 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) transporter was measured in a group of healthy male drinkers of ayahuasca, a psychoactive sacrament indigenous to Amazonia, and a group healthy male controls. An increased number of binding sites (Bmax) in the platelets of ayahuasca drinkers was found, while the dissociation constant (Kd) remained the same for both groups. If indicative of neuronal 5-HT uptake activity, these results would suggest a decreased concentration of extracellular 5-HT, or a response to increased production and release of 5-HT. Such changes in 5-HT synaptic activity, in this case, should not be misinterpreted as an indication of developing neurological or psychiatric illness.
ISSN:0033-3158
DOI:10.1007/BF02245347