Neurotransmitters regulate platelet function.

Abstract

Neurotransmitters are thought to cause an effect on human platelets. In this essay an overview is given to asses the roll of serotonin, glutamate, acetylcholine, epinephrine, and substance P in platelet regulation. All these neurotransmitter seem to play a key roll in the aggregation and possibly adhesion. To supplement this literature study three experiments were preformed using Flow cytometric analyses measuring CD62P and PAC-1 after neurotransmitter stimulation. The experiments were conducted in PRP and on washed platelets. From these studies we can conclude that neurotransmitters effect platelet activation. Furthermore it is shown that neurotransmitters only activate platelets in high concentrations and that glutamate needs a secondary signal such as ADP for platelet activation.