engleski

Serotonin transporter on rat platelets: level of protein expression underlies inherited differences in uptake kinetics

By breeding selection, for the extreme values of platelet serotonin level (PSL), two sublines of Wistar-derived rats, with constitutionally high or low PSL, have been earlier developed. Kinetic studies, on platelets of the mentioned animals, demonstrated analogous differences in platelet serotonin uptake (PSU). In order to search for the basis of the observed differences, we have performed quantitative analysis of serotonin (5HT) transporter molecules on platelet membranes of animals from the mentioned sublines. After determination of PSL and velocity of PSU, platelet membranes of 7 animals from each subline, were prepared and subjected to western blot analysis, by the use of 5HT transporter-directed antibodies. A single, 94 kDa band has been detected, with significantly higher expression (p<0.01) in platelets of high-5HT animals. Similar differences in all three parameters: PSL, PSU and 5HT transporter protein, between the sublines were observed (values of the low-5HT subline ranging from 50 to 70% of the respective values of high-5HT subline), with good intraindividual correlations between their values. The results suggest that the inherited differences in serotonin uptake kinetics and, consequential differences in platelet serotonin level, are underlied by alterations in the level of expression of transporter protein in platelet membranes of the selected rats.

5-HT transporter; platelet serotonin level; western blot; rat sublines

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