title: Brain tryptophan metabolism on the 5-hydroxytryptamine and kynurenine pathways in a strain of rats with a deficiency in platelet 5-HT.
abstract: 1 Brain 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) metabolism has been compared in albino (Sprague-Dawley; SD) and in Fawn-Hooded (FH) rats, which have an inherited platelet 5-HT deficiency. 2 It was confirmed that blood 5-HT levels in the FH rats were about one quarter of those in the SD rats. 3 Brain 5-HT and 5-HIAA were however higher in FH rats on a per gram basis; there was no difference between the strains on a per brain basis, because of the smaller brain weights of the FH rats. 4 Brain and plasma tryptophan were not significantly different in the two strains. Plasma kynurenine was higher in the FH rats, and brain kynurenine was also higher either on a per gram or on a per brain basis. 5 The reserpine-releasable brain 5-HT was the same proportion of total brain 5-HT in the two strains. 6 Experiments with pargyline suggested that the turnover of 5-HT was somewhat higher in the FH rats on a per gram basis, but not significantly so on a per brain basis. 7 It is concluded that although brain tryptophan metabolism may be somewhat accelerated along both the 5-HT and kynurenine pathways in the FH rats there is no gross deficiency in the binding of 5-HT in their brains analogous to that found in their platelets.
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001792:Blood Platelets / Q000378:metabolism; D001921:Brain / Q000378:metabolism*; D006897:Hydroxyindoleacetic Acid / Q000378:metabolism; D007737:Kynurenine / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D010293:Pargyline / Q000494:pharmacology; D051381:Rats; D012110:Reserpine / Q000494:pharmacology; D012701:Serotonin / Q000097:blood / Q000172:deficiency* / Q000378:metabolism; D014364:Tryptophan / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D012701:Serotonin; D007737:Kynurenine; D006897:Hydroxyindoleacetic Acid; D012110:Reserpine; D014364:Tryptophan; D010293:Pargyline