Platelet and Brain Fatty acid transfer: Hypothesis on Arachidovic Acid and its relationship to Major Depression

Depression may be linked to changes of the fatty acid profile in many biological districts such as platelets, plasma phospholipids, rat brain and red blood cells. The platelet is one of the most extensively researched biological markers in psychiatry. In an animal model of depression, the high level of arachidonic acid, found in the brain, in platelets and in other biological material indicated a possible relationship between platelets and brain. For this purpose we investigated platelet fatty acid composition in humans (vein and artery) and in pigs (vein and brain). The findings are consistent with the hypothesis, in the case of Arachidonic Acid, of a specific link between the two districts (platelets and brain) and of the existence of particular conditions which can cause a dangerous accumulation of Arachidonic Acid within the brain.