title: Biochemical aspects of tryptophan depletion in primates.
abstract: We studied the degree of plasma tryptophan depletion produced by giving normal human males different amounts of a tryptophan-free (T-) amino acid mixture. From the results of this and other studies we concluded that the maximum degree of tryptophan depletion can be produced by a 31.5 g mixture of seven essential amino acids. Administration of a T- amino acid mixture to vervet monkeys lowered tryptophan and 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid in the cerebrospinal fluid. Levels of tyrosine and the catecholamine metabolites were unchanged. These data support the idea that the effects of T- mixture on mental function in humans which have been reported previously are due to a decrease in 5-hydroxytryptamine.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada.
authors.forename: S N
authors.initials: SN
authors.lastname: Young
authors.forename: F R
authors.initials: FR
authors.lastname: Ervin
authors.forename: R O
authors.initials: RO
authors.lastname: Pihl
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Finn
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000596:Amino Acids / Q000494:pharmacology; D000818:Animals; D001679:Biogenic Amines / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid; D002522:Chlorocebus aethiops; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D013045:Species Specificity; D014364:Tryptophan / Q000097:blood / Q000172:deficiency / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D000596:Amino Acids; D001679:Biogenic Amines; D014364:Tryptophan