title: Quantitative analysis of serotonin biosynthesis in endotoxemia.
abstract: Endotoxin-poisoned mice converted significantly greater quantities of tryptophan to serotonin than did normal mice. The percentage increase, approximately 10 to 15%, was the same whether mice were given only trace quantities of tryptophan or tryptophan load (20 mg of l-tryptophan). The increased serotonin synthesis was accompanied by a decreased flow of tryptophan into the kynurenine pathway. These results indicate that excess serotonin synthesis occurs not only at dose levels of tryptophan which are toxic for endotoxin-poisoned mice but also at physiological levels of tryptophan. This latter observation may have some importance in the overall pathophysiology of endotoxin shock.
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002250:Carbon Radioisotopes; D005260:Female; D007274:Injections, Intraperitoneal; D007737:Kynurenine / Q000652:urine; D051379:Mice; D012486:Salmonella typhimurium / Q000276:immunology; D012701:Serotonin / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000652:urine; D012772:Shock, Septic / Q000378:metabolism*; D014364:Tryptophan / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000378:metabolism / Q000652:urine
chemical_list: D002250:Carbon Radioisotopes; D012701:Serotonin; D007737:Kynurenine; D014364:Tryptophan