Ultrastructural changes of the liver following L-tryptophan ingestion in rats.
Oral administration of L-tryptophan at 250 mg/(kg X d) for 3 consecutive days to rats produced enlarged hepatic sinusoids and vacuolated cells, many of which contained lipid. These changes persisted for at least 2 wk. Since the hepatic metabolism of L-tryptophan is very similar in rats and humans, these data suggest that people who self-administer large doses of L-tryptophan for the purpose of decreasing sleep latency may be inducing hepatic pathology.
D000818:Animals; D056486:Chemical and Drug Induced Liver Injury; D008055:Lipids / Q000032:analysis; D008099:Liver / Q000032:analysis / Q000187:drug effects / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D008297:Male; D008854:Microscopy, Electron; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains; D012890:Sleep / Q000187:drug effects; D014364:Tryptophan / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000494:pharmacology*
D008055:Lipids; D014364:Tryptophan