Alteration of erythrocyte phosphate transport in primary depressive disorders

Plasma and erythrocyte phosphate levels, concentrations of red cell organic phosphate ester fractions (acid labile and acid resistant phosphate pools) and intracellular ATP content were determined in 16 patients with bipolar depression, in 14 subjects with unipolar depression as a group of primary affective disorders, in 15 patients suffering from neurotic depression and in 45 healthy controls. Simultaneous in vitro measurements were carried out to detect the exchange rates of inorganic phosphate between the extracellular phosphate pool and the different intracellular phosphate fractions, by use of 32P and applying tracer kinetic analysis.