Effects of cigarette smoking or ingestion of nicotine on platelet 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) levels in smokers and non-smokers
✍ Scribed by Rack�, K. ;Schw�rer, H. ;Simson, G.
- Publisher
- Springer-Verlag
- Year
- 1992
- Tongue
- English
- Weight
- 363 KB
- Volume
- 70-70
- Category
- Article
- ISSN
- 1432-1440
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✦ Synopsis
Platelets of healthy smokers and nonsmokers were prepared and their content of 5-hydroxytryptamine was determined by HPLC with electrochemical detection. Platelet 5-HT levels in smokers (728 _+ 156 pmol per 10 s platelets, mean_+ SEM, n=9) were significantly higher than those in non-smokers (353_+ 156 pmol per 108 platelets, n = 11). Smoking of a single cigarette caused a transient increase in platelet 5-HT levels by about 350% in non-smokers, but had no additional effect in smokers. Similarly, chewing of nicotine gum (4-8 mg nicotine) resulted in a transient increase in platelet 5-HT by about 100% in non-smokers, but not in smokers. In conclusion, smoking of cigarettes can cause an increase in platelet 5-HT, most likely via an enhanced supply of 5-HT from enterochromaffin cells which can be stimulated via nicotine receptors.