Blunted adenosine A2a receptor function in platelets in patients with major depression

There is provisional evidence of involvement of adenosine in depression. In this study, the second messenger intracellular calcium response in platele ts was measured in patients with major depression and controls using spectr ofluorometry. The primary result of this study was a statistically signific antly blunted second messenger response to agonist stimulation in the depre ssed group compared to the control group at the 50 and 100 nM and 1 muM dos age levels. This suggests that dysregulation of the adenosine A2a receptor may be present in depression. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights res erved.