Decreased Numbers of Platelet α-Adrenergic Binding Sites in Diabetes Mellitus
- Richard M Spalding, MD,
- W Kenneth Ward, MD,
- Thomas W Malpass, MD,
- John R Stratton, MD,
- Jeffery B Halter, MD,
- Daniel Porte Jr, MD and
- Michael A Pfeifer, MD
- Address reprint requests to Richard Spalding, M.D., Ambulatory Care (11C), Veterans Administration Medical Center, 800 Zorn Avenue, Louisville, Kentucky 40202.
Abstract
Eleven men with diabetes mellitus were compared with 45 male controls for platelet a-adrenergic binding sites by using [3H]dihydroergocryptine (DHE) as the radioligand antagonist. There was no difference between the two for binding affinity, but the number of sites was 430 ± 30 (x ± SEM) for diabetic subjects and 574 ± 29 for controls (P = .005). Decreased sites were related to increased glycosylated hemoglobin levels (P = .002). There was no relationship between the decreased sites and catecholamine levels, duration of disease, body weight, or fasting blood sugar. Hence, binding sites were inversely related to control, but further studies are needed to define the pathophysiologic significance of this.
- Copyright © 1986 by the American Diabetes Association
