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Adenylate-cyclase activity in platelets of patients with obsessive-compulsive disorder

Authors Marazziti D, Baroni S, Palego L, Masala I, Consoli G, Dell’Osso MC, Giannaccini G, Lucacchini A

Published 1 July 2009 Volume 2009:5 Pages 363—367

DOI https://doi.org/10.2147/NDT.S4956

Review by Single anonymous peer review

Peer reviewer comments 4



D Marazziti, S Baroni, L Palego, I Masala, G Consoli, M Catena Dell’Osso, G Giannaccini, A Lucacchini

Dipartimento di Psichiatria, Neurobiologia, Farmacologia e Biotecnologie, Università di Pisa, Pisa, Italy

Abstract: Although the main biological hypothesis on the pathophysiology of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is centered on the serotonin system, indications are available that other neurotransmitters, and even second messengers, particularly the cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) signaling, may be involved, though effective data are few. Therefore, the aim of the present study was to evaluate and compare the basal and isoprenaline (ISO)-stimulated velocity of adenylate-cyclase (AC) in human platelet membranes of patients with OCD and healthy control subjects. The results showed that the basal and ISO-stimulated AC activity, as well as the dose-response curves of ISO by using agonist concentrations ranging between 0.1 nM and 10 µM, were not different in the two groups. However, OCD patients showed lower EC50 and higher Emax values than healthy subjects. These findings suggest the presence of supersensitive β-adrenergic receptors in platelets of OCD patients.

Keywords: obsessive-compulsive disorder, norepinephrine, second messengers, adenylate-cyclase, platelets, isoprenaline, β-adrenergic receptors

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