Platelets as potential peripheral markers to study functioning of the high-affinity sodium-dependent glutamate transporters in the nerve terminals of the brain

Activity of the high-affinity sodium-dependent glutamate transporters in the brain nerve terminals is demonstrated to alter under artificial gravity conditions. A comparison analysis is made for L-[¹⁴C] glutamate transport in platelets and isolated nerve terminals. The kinetic characteristics of the transporters, [Na⁺]-dependence and influence of the transpoter inhibitor DL-threo-beta-benzyloxyaspartate on the L-[¹⁴C] glutamate uptake process are determined. It is shown that glutamate uptake process is very similar for platelets and nerve terminals. Thus it is reasonable to use platelets as a potential peripheral model for glutamate transport.