Platelet Serotonin Concentration in Children with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder

Abstract

Background: Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a psychiatric disorder highly prevalent in children. The neurobiology of ADHD is still not clear, but is assumed to be related to disturbances in catecholaminergic and serotonergic (5-hydroxytryptamine, 5-HT) systems. Peripheral indices of central 5-HT function were shown in recent studies to be lower, unaltered, or increased in ADHD. Methods: The study determined platelet 5-HT concentration in 84 medication-free 9-year-old (range 4–14 years) boys and girls with DSM-IV diagnosis of ADHD, subdivided according to the different symptoms (inattention, hyperactivity, and impulsivity) and clinical ADHD subtypes (predominantly hyperactive, predominantly inattentive, and combined subtype), and in 30 age- and sex-matched healthy controls. Results: Children with ADHD had similar platelet 5-HT concentrations to control children. Platelet 5-HT concentration did not differ between boys and girls, or between children with a hyperactive, inattentive, or combined subtype of ADHD. In children with ADHD there was a significant positive correlation between platelet 5-HT concentration and impulsive symptoms, but not with symptoms of inattention or hyperactivity.Platelet 5-HT concentration wassignificantly higher in impulsive compared to non-impulsive children with ADHD. Conclusion: The data provide preliminary evidence that increased platelet 5-HT concentration might be a trait marker predictive of impulsivity in ADHD.

Gut-Brain Axis: Probiotic,Bacillus subtilis, Prevents Aggression via the Modification of the Central Serotonergic System

“…In Gut-Brain Axis: Probiotic, Bacillus subtilis, Prevents Aggression via the Modification… DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.86775 addition, Bolhuis et al [271] proposed that blood 5-HT activity is correlated with the development of severe feather pecking in laying hens. A similar correlation between blood 5-HT levels and aggressiveness has also been detected in humans and various other animals, that is, a lower blood 5-HT level was associated with less aggressive individuals in humans [180,272] and canine [273], while an elevated blood 5-HT level was determined in patients with aggressive behaviors [274] and in aggressive teleost fish [275].…”

Methylphenidate effects on blood serotonin and melatonin levels may help to synchronise biological rhythms in children with ADHD

“…Researchers have suggested that there are different developmental trajectories for 5-HT function in aggressive and non-aggressive boys (Halperin et al, 1997). In addition, increased platelet 5-HT concentration might be a trait marker that predicts impulsivity in children with ADHD (Hercigonja Novkovic et al, 2009).…”

Human Plasma Glycome in Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder and Autism Spectrum Disorders

“…Children with ADHD and ASD frequently share symptoms of impaired communication skills, impaired social interactions (4), and develop difficulties in familial, educational, and academic functioning (5,6). The abnormal functioning of the dopaminergic and serotonergic systems (5,(7)(8)(9), among other neurotransmitters, were repeatedly found in ADHD and ASD, and therefore the candidate genes common for both disorders are the dopaminergic transporter gene, dopaminergic receptor type 3 and type 4 genes, serotonin transporter gene, and genes for catechol-o-methyl-transferase and monoamine oxidase type A (4), although genome-wide association studies did not confirm with certainty all these candidates (10). A shared genetic basis is further suggested by the higher frequency of ADHD and ASD traits in children with a defined genetic diagnosis such as 22q11 deletion syndrome, XXYY syndrome, and microdeletions or duplications in the chromosome 15q13.2-q13.3 region (11,12).…”