title: Central serotonergic activity after neurogenic hypertension.
abstract: Sinoaortic denervated rats, 24 h after operation, showed a 25% increase in the central (hypothalamus, frontal cortex, midbrain, pons and medulla oblongata) tryptophan content and about a 70% rise in plasma free fatty acid (NEFA) concentration. The synaptosomal serotonin (5-HT) uptake and tryptophan hydroxylase activity of slices from these central areas were not significantly different when compared to those from sham-operated rats. There was also an increase in tryptophan and NEFA concentration at 24 h in fasted sham-operated rats. Seven days after neurogenic hypertension, the central tryptophan content had returned to control values. However, a 50% increase in the tryptophan hydroxylase activity of slices from the midbrain area together with a higher turnover rate of serotonin was found in the denervated group of rats. The synaptosomal 5-HT uptake remained unchanged. These results suggest that sinoaortic denervation could induce changes in the serotonergic neurons localized in central nervous system areas during the first week after operation.
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001835:Body Weight; D001921:Brain / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D001923:Brain Chemistry; D003714:Denervation; D005230:Fatty Acids, Nonesterified / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D006973:Hypertension / Q000209:etiology*; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D011311:Pressoreceptors / Q000502:physiology; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains; D011985:Receptors, Serotonin / Q000502:physiology*; D012701:Serotonin / Q000378:metabolism; D014364:Tryptophan / Q000032:analysis; D014365:Tryptophan Hydroxylase / Q000032:analysis
chemical_list: D005230:Fatty Acids, Nonesterified; D011985:Receptors, Serotonin; D012701:Serotonin; D014364:Tryptophan; D014365:Tryptophan Hydroxylase