Delayed desensitization of α2-adrenoceptor-mediated platelet aggregation in depressed patients

Abstract

After prolonged exposure to epinephrine, platelets are desirved to desensitize a2-adrenoceptor-mediated aggregation responses in vitro. Herein, this phenomenon ues studied as a possible in vitro model for a2-odrenoceptor dysregulation in depression. Platelet-rich obtained from 22 unipolar depressed patients and 25 healthy subjects were preincubated with 20 Jl.mol/L of for various lengths of time prior to stirring. by comparing the subsequent extents of aggregation, we descroed significantly less desensitization at 4, 20, 30, or 60minutes postepinephrine exposure (p