Regional brain amino acid and neurotransmitter derangements during abdominal sepsis and septic encephalopathy in the rat. The effect of amino acid infusions.
Regional amino acids and brain neurotransmitters were studied in 33 normal and 32 rats with sepsis (induced by cecal ligation and puncture) infused with different amino acid formulations. The brain amino acid pattern during sepsis showed increased concentrations of most essential and six of the nonessential amino acids. The most consistent finding was the accumulation of indoleamines in all six brain regions studied during sepsis; increased brain tryptophan levels presumably resulted in enhanced metabolism of serotonin (5HT), increased production of 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid (5HIAA), and a high 5HT/5HIAA ratio. Infusion of branched-chain amino acid-enriched formulas restored brain amino acid and neurotransmitter profiles, decreasing levels of tryptophan, tyrosine, 5HIAA, and 5HT/5HIAA ratios while increasing norepinephrine levels in some regions. These alterations in brain neurotransmitter metabolism may be at least partially responsible for the development of septic encephalopathy.
H R
HR
Freund
M
M
Muggia-Sullam
R
R
LaFrance
J
J
Holroyde
J E
JE
Fischer
D000596:Amino Acids / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000494:pharmacology; D000818:Animals; D001522:Behavior, Animal; D001921:Brain / Q000378:metabolism*; D001927:Brain Diseases / Q000209:etiology / Q000378:metabolism*; D002540:Cerebral Cortex / Q000378:metabolism; D003342:Corpus Striatum / Q000378:metabolism; D004027:Diencephalon / Q000378:metabolism; D006624:Hippocampus / Q000378:metabolism; D006897:Hydroxyindoleacetic Acid / Q000378:metabolism; D007239:Infections / Q000150:complications / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D008526:Medulla Oblongata / Q000378:metabolism; D018377:Neurotransmitter Agents / Q000378:metabolism*; D011149:Pons / Q000378:metabolism; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains; D012701:Serotonin / Q000378:metabolism; D014364:Tryptophan / Q000378:metabolism
D000596:Amino Acids; D018377:Neurotransmitter Agents; D012701:Serotonin; D006897:Hydroxyindoleacetic Acid; D014364:Tryptophan