Why the study?
Are platelet cytosolic free Ca2+ concentration and serotonin content altered in untreated essential hypertension?
Are platelet cytosolic free Ca2+ concentration and serotonin content altered in untreated essential hypertension?
Untreated essential hypertension is associated with elevated platelet cytosolic free calcium and decreased serotonin content, suggesting underlying cell membrane alterations.
Associated platelet Ca²⁺ rise and 5-HT depletion may mark membrane dysfunction in hypertension; leaves open causality and clinical relevance pending prospective data.
Cytosolic free [Ca2+] and serotonin (5-HT) content were measured in platelets from 22 untreated hypertensive patients and 16 normotensive subjects. In hypertensive patients, cytosolic free [Ca2+] was significantly higher (239 +/- 13 nmol/l versus 186 +/- 7 nmol/l, n = 22 and 16, P less than 0.01) and 5-HT content was significantly lower than those measured in cells from control subjects (3.22 +/- 0.26 versus 4.99 +/- 0.38 X 10(-7) mol/10(11) cells, n = 22 and 16, P less than 0.001). These two parameters were closely correlated (r = -0.565, n = 38, P less than 0.001). These two concomitant changes in platelet characteristics might result from a common cause, such as cell membrane alterations. As ritanserine, a specific 5-HT2 receptor antagonist, did not modify the cytosolic free [Ca2+], a higher stimulation of 5-HT2 receptors is not likely to be responsible for the enhanced free Ca2+ levels.
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Sang et al. (1987) studied this question.
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