PLATELET MONOAMINE CHANGES IN DIABETIC-PATIENTS AND STREPTOZOTOCIN-INDUCED DIABETIC RATS

In the present study we assessed plasma and platelet monoamine content using high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). The study includ ed 22 subjects consisting of 12 freshly-detected male diabetic patient s and 10 age and sex-matched healthy controls, The same parameters wer e measured in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rat models consisting of controls, diabetic and insulin-treated diabetic rats, The platelet co unts were significantly reduced (P < 0.05) in rat models as well as hu man diabetic samples, The plasma norepinephrine (NE) and epinephrine ( EPI) concentrations were significantly increased (P < 0.05), The plate let showed a significant increase (P < 0.01) in NE, EPI and serotonin content, Increase in the plasma and platelet content of neurotransmitt ers may be due to increased sympathetic function, which is an adaptati on for the decreased platelet count observed in our study, The results indicate that changes in the neurotransmitter content of the platelet may be a good index to assess the neurotransmitter status in patholog ical condition such as diabetes mellitus.