Human blood platelet as research tool in neuropsychopharmacology.

The use of blood platelets as a nerve terminal model for serotonin is well documented. However, it is clear that the use of platelets as a model can be justified only for those parameters where it may be shown that blood platelets and neural cells share almost identical features. The excellent similarity between the serotonin transport mechanisms in platelets and in nerve terminals, and the existence of various receptors for biogenic amines, peptides and substances with neuronal activity on platelet membrane offer a really unique opportunity to utilize blood platelets as a system for drug evaluation. In our work platelet benzodiazepine binding sites and their modulation by different benzodiazepines in normals and in demented patients are examined.