title: Effects of L-tryptophan on blood pressure in normotensive and hypertensive rats.
abstract: The effects of L-tryptophan on blood pressure and brain serotonin have been investigated in normotensive and spontaneously hypertensive rats. Doses of L-tryptophan from 25 to 100 mg/kg increased the blood pressure of normotensive rats by 10 to 15 mm Hg. The lower doses of L-tryptophan also increased blood pressure in hypertensive rats but, in contrast, the highest dose (100 mg/kg) lowered blood pressure by 30 to 35 mm Hg. Blood pressure effects of L-tryptophan were evident within 30 min of treatment and reached maximal response by 60 min. L-Tryptophan-induced changes in serotonin neurochemistry were correlated on a temporal basis with changes in blood pressure. However, the dose-response relationship between blood pressure changes and increases in brain serotonin and 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid content produced by L-tryptophan was not related. The effects of L-tryptophan on blood pressure in normotensive and spontaneously hypertensive rats cannot be explained entirely by its effects on brain serotonin.
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000187:drug effects*; D001921:Brain / Q000378:metabolism; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D006897:Hydroxyindoleacetic Acid / Q000378:metabolism; D006973:Hypertension / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains; D012701:Serotonin / Q000378:metabolism; D014364:Tryptophan / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D012701:Serotonin; D006897:Hydroxyindoleacetic Acid; D014364:Tryptophan