EFFECT OF MOOD STABILIZING AGENTS ON AGONIST-INDUCED CALCIUM MOBILIZATION IN HUMAN PLATELETS

The effect of mood stabilizing agents such as lithium, carbamazepine, valproic acid and clonazepam on serotonin(5-HT)-or thrombin-induced in tracellular calcium (Ca) mobilization was studied in the platelets of healthy subjects using the fluorescent Ca indicator fura-2. After incu bating platelet-rich plasma with these drugs for one or four hours, th ere was no significant difference in either basal Ca2+ concentration o r 5-HT-stimulated Ca response between each agent treatment and control . 5-HT- or thrombin-induced Ca mobilization was not altered by four we eks of lithium carbonate administration in healthy volunteers. These r esults indicate that these mood stabilizers fail to affect the agonist -stimulated intracellular Ca mobilizing pathway either in vitro or ex vivo in the platelets of healthy subjects.