It has previously been reported that serotonin-stimulated second messenger formation is inhibited in platelets from alcoholics undergoing detoxification. Serotoninstimulated signal transduction was therefore analysed in platelets from young post-withdrawal alcoholics to elucidate whether the previously reported inhibition is a state or trait marker of alcoholism. No difference between post-withdrawal alcoholics and controls was found with regard to serotonin-stimulated 32P-phosphatidylinositol 4, 5-bisphosphate hydrolysis or 32P-phosphatidic acid formation. The results indicate that the inhibited serotonin2receptor function seen in alcoholics undergoing detoxification is a state-dependent rather than a trait-dependent marker.
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