Platelet serotonin uptake sites increased in drinkers ofayahuasca
J. C. Callaway, Mauno M. Airaksinen, Dennis J. Mckenna, Glacus S. Brito, Charles S. Grob
Psychopharmacology November 1, 1994 DOI: 10.1007/bf02245347 via OpenAlex
Summary
AI-generated from the abstractHealthy male drinkers of ayahuasca, a psychoactive Amazonian sacrament, showed an increased number of binding sites for [3H]citalopram on platelet serotonin transporters compared to healthy male controls, while the dissociation constant remained unchanged. If these platelet measures reflect neuronal serotonin uptake activity, the findings suggest either a decreased concentration of extracellular serotonin or a compensatory response to increased serotonin production and release. The authors caution that such changes in serotonin synaptic activity should not be misinterpreted as signs of developing neurological or psychiatric illness.
Study at a glance
| Characteristics | Observational cohort Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Population | Healthy male drinkers of ayahuasca and healthy male controls |
| Intervention | Ayahuasca |
| Topics | Ayahuasca Serotonin |
| Keywords | Citalopram Serotonin transporter Platelet Extracellular |
| Citations | 79 |
| Key finding | Ayahuasca drinkers had an increased number of platelet serotonin transporter binding sites compared to controls, with no change in dissociation constant. |
Abstract
The binding of [3H]citalopram to the platelet 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) transporter was measured in a group of healthy male drinkers of ayahuasca, a psychoactive sacrament indigenous to Amazonia, and a group healthy male controls. An increased number of binding sites (Bmax) in the platelets of ayahuasca drinkers was found, while the dissociation constant (Kd) remained the same for both groups. If indicative of neuronal 5-HT uptake activity, these results would suggest a decreased concentration of extracellular 5-HT, or a response to increased production and release of 5-HT. Such changes in 5-HT synaptic activity, in this case, should not be misinterpreted as an indication of developing neurological or psychiatric illness.