title: Effect of chronic treatment with 5-hydroxytryptophan on cortical serotonin receptors in the rat.
abstract: L-5-Hydroxytryptophan (5-HTP) is a clinically useful antimyoclonic drug that is thought to act at serotonin (5-HT) receptors after decarboxylation to 5-HT. However, the chronic effects of 5-HTP on central 5-HT receptors and the activity of 5-HTP at 5-HT receptor subtypes have not been previously reported. In rats treated 28 but not 7 consecutive days with high doses of 5-HTP (50-200 mg/kg), cortical 5-HT2 (-20%) and 5-HT1 (-11%) sites were downregulated without altered receptor affinity, but only the changes in 5-HT2 sites were significant. In naive frontal cortex in vitro, however, 5-HTP and 5-HT were more active at 5-HT1 sites, and 5-HTP was inactive at 5-HT2 sites. The differential effects of high-dose 5-HTP on 5-HT receptors suggest that 5-HT2 receptor downregulation may be relevant either to the antimyoclonic effect of chronic 5-HTP therapy in posthypoxic myoclonus or to development of tolerance.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Columbia University, College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York, New York.
authors.forename: M R
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Pranzatelli
mesh_terms: D006916:5-Hydroxytryptophan / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000818:Animals; D002540:Cerebral Cortex / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains; D011985:Receptors, Serotonin / Q000187:drug effects*
chemical_list: D011985:Receptors, Serotonin; D006916:5-Hydroxytryptophan