title: Possible resolution of a paradox concerning the use of p-chlorophenylalanine and 5-hydroxytryptophan: evidence for a mode of action involving adrenaline in manipulating the surge of luteinizing hormone in rats.
abstract: Various functions involving the central nervous system can be manipulated by the sequential administration of p-chlorophenylalanine and 5-hydroxytryptophan, compounds which respectively inhibit and restore the synthesis of 5-hydroxytryptamine in the brain. An involvement of 5-hydroxytryptamine in the control of a particular function has been considered established when the effect of p-chlorophenylalanine on that function can be overcome by treatment with 5-hydroxytryptophan. This assumption is not, however, invariably substantiated when the functional consequences of other methods of depleting 5-hydroxytryptamine are considered; studies on the control of the daily surge of luteinizing hormone in oestrogen-treated ovariectomized rats present such a paradox. The surge can be prevented by p-chlorophenylalanine and restored by 5-hydroxytryptophan. Nevertheless, neurotoxin-induced lesions of the 5-hydroxytryptamine projections from the raphe nuclei are compatible with a normal occurrence of the surge. We have therefore examined the effects of p-chlorophenylalanine and 5-hydroxytryptophan on hypothalamic monoamines in oestrogen-treated ovariectomized rats and find that the drugs respectively suppress and elevate the concentration of adrenaline in addition to that of 5-hydroxytryptamine. Phenylethanolamine N-methyltransferase, the enzyme responsible for converting noradrenaline to adrenaline, is shown to be inhibited in vivo by p-chlorophenylalanine and in vitro by its metabolite, p-chlorophenylethylamine. The reciprocal effects of p-chlorophenylalanine and 5-hydroxytryptophan on the concentration of adrenaline are of particular interest since drugs which inhibit adrenaline synthesis can block the luteinizing hormone surge. It is proposed that when the 5-hydroxytryptophan-reversible effects of treatment with p-chlorophenylalanine are not reproduced by other procedures which deplete 5-hydroxytryptamine, the significant action of these compounds may involve adrenaline.
mesh_terms: D006916:5-Hydroxytryptophan / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000818:Animals; D002395:Catecholamines / Q000032:analysis; D004837:Epinephrine / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D010134:Fenclonine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D007031:Hypothalamus / Q000032:analysis / Q000201:enzymology; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone / Q000378:metabolism*; D010625:Phenylethanolamine N-Methyltransferase / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains; D012701:Serotonin / Q000032:analysis
chemical_list: D002395:Catecholamines; D012701:Serotonin; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone; D006916:5-Hydroxytryptophan; D010625:Phenylethanolamine N-Methyltransferase; D010134:Fenclonine; D004837:Epinephrine