title: gamma-L-glutamyl-5-hydroxy-L-tryptophan, but not gamma-L-glutamyl-L-tryptophan, causes sodium retention in normal man.
abstract: 1. This randomized, placebo-controlled, cross-over study compared the relative effectiveness of gamma-L-glutamyl-5-hydroxy-L-tryptophan (glu-5-HTP) and gamma-L-glutamyl-L-tryptophan (glu-TRP) in terms of their ability to act as substrates for renal 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) synthesis and their actions on urinary sodium excretion. 2. Urinary excretion of 5-HT and sodium were determined before, during and after 1 h intravenous infusion of an equimolar amount (45 nmol kg-1 min-1) of glu-5-HTP or glu-TRP or placebo in nine healthy male subjects. 3. Cumulative urinary 5-HT excretion over the 4 h after the start of glu-5-HTP infusion was 350-fold greater than that after placebo, and this was associated with a reduction in the urinary excretion of sodium. 4. In contrast, the urinary excretion values of 5-HT and sodium after administration of glu-TRP were not significantly different from those observed on the placebo day. 5. The marked increase in urinary 5-HT excretion and the retention of sodium after administration of glu-5-HTP have been demonstrated in previous studies and result from increased intrarenal generation of 5-HT. The absence of a rise in urinary excretion of 5-HT after glu-TRP infusion suggests that there was no significant conversion of this glutamyl compound to 5-HT within the kidney. As a result, there was no effect on urinary sodium excretion.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Royal Infirmary, Edinburgh, UK.
authors.forename: T C
authors.initials: TC
authors.lastname: Li Kam Wa
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Freestone
authors.forename: R R
authors.initials: RR
authors.lastname: Samson
authors.forename: N R
authors.initials: NR
authors.lastname: Johnson
authors.forename: M R
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Lee
mesh_terms: D006916:5-Hydroxytryptophan / Q000652:urine; D000328:Adult; D018592:Cross-Over Studies; D004151:Dipeptides / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006801:Humans; D006897:Hydroxyindoleacetic Acid / Q000652:urine; D007668:Kidney / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D012701:Serotonin / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000652:urine; D012964:Sodium / Q000652:urine*
chemical_list: D004151:Dipeptides; C102867:gamma-glutamyltryptophan; C083320:gamma-glutamyl-5-hydroxytryptophan; D012701:Serotonin; D006897:Hydroxyindoleacetic Acid; D012964:Sodium; D006916:5-Hydroxytryptophan