title: Brain serotonin synthesis and Na+,K+-ATPase activity are increased postnatally after prenatal administration of L-tryptophan.
abstract: The effect of prenatal L-tryptophan supplementation on the serotonin (5-HT) synthesis and the activity of Na+,K+-ATPase in the cerebral cortex was studied during postnatal development, from birth up to day 30. A parallel and significant elevation of the serotonin content and the activity of tryptophan-5-hydroxylase was observed in the brain of infant rats born to mothers treated with L-tryptophan, as related to non-treated controls. The activity of Na+,K+-ATPase was also significantly elevated at the different ages studied throughout the developmental period, as related to controls. These results suggest an important role of L-tryptophan in the early regulation of the serotonin-synthesizing machinery, which lasts postnatally. Elevation of ATPase activity seems to be associated to the elevation in the activity of the 5-HT system.
mesh_terms: D000375:Aging; D000818:Animals; D000831:Animals, Newborn / Q000378:metabolism; D002540:Cerebral Cortex / Q000187:drug effects / Q000201:enzymology / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D007274:Injections, Intraperitoneal; D008431:Maternal-Fetal Exchange / Q000187:drug effects; D011247:Pregnancy; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains; D012701:Serotonin / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D000254:Sodium-Potassium-Exchanging ATPase / Q000378:metabolism*; D014364:Tryptophan / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D014365:Tryptophan Hydroxylase / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D012701:Serotonin; D014364:Tryptophan; D014365:Tryptophan Hydroxylase; D000254:Sodium-Potassium-Exchanging ATPase