title: In vivo rate of serotonin synthesis in brain and spinal cord of young, spontaneously hypertensive rats.
abstract: The accumulation of 5-hydroxytryptophan (5-HTP) following decarboxylase inhibition was measured in hypothalamus (HYP), pons-medulla (PM) and spinal cord (SC) of 4- and 8-week-old spontaneously hypertensive (SH) and normotensive (WKY) rats. Using this method, a significant increase in the in vivo activity of tryptophan hydroxylase was observed in the PM and SC of 4-week-old, but not 8-week-old SH rats. These findings show a transient elevation in rate of 5-HT synthesis prior to the onset of hypertension, which does not appear to continue during the maintenance phase.
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001794:Blood Pressure; D001835:Body Weight; D001921:Brain / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D006973:Hypertension / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000503:physiopathology; D007031:Hypothalamus / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D008526:Medulla Oblongata / Q000378:metabolism; D011149:Pons / Q000378:metabolism; D051381:Rats; D012701:Serotonin / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D013116:Spinal Cord / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D012701:Serotonin