Role of serotonin for scoliotic deformity in pinealectomized chicken.
METHODS
The effect of intraperitoneal injection of 5-hydroxytryptophan (5-HTP) versus control in pinealectomized chickens.


OBJECTIVE
To find if the serotonin may have some role in the cause of treatment of idiopathic scoliosis.


BACKGROUND
One of the causes of idiopathic scoliosis is thought to be the disruption of postural reflex. Serotonin has been proposed to have a crucial role in maintaining normal postural muscle tone or postural equilibrium.


METHODS
Forty pinealectomized chickens served as controls, and an additional 40 pinealectomized chickens received daily intraperitoneal injections of 5-hydroxy-tryptophan, a precursor of serotonin, which can pass through the blood-brain barrier. Spine radiographs were examined to measure the scoliotic deformity.


RESULTS
Scoliosis developed in all 40 pinealectomized chickens (control), whereas only 28 chickens in the 5-hydroxytryptophan-treated group (6 in severe, 22 in mild) had scoliosis developed. The remaining 12 chickens grew up with normal spines. Most chickens with mild scoliosis did not have curve progression but continued to have wedged vertebrae.


CONCLUSIONS
Serotonin deficit secondary to a defect of melatonin may have disturbed postural muscle tone or postural equilibrium resulting in scoliosis in pinealectomized chicken. Prevention from the development of scoliosis or its progression in chickens treated with 5-hydroxytryptophan suggests that serotonin may have potential therapeutic value.
Machida
M
M
Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Nihon University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan.
Miyashita
Y
Y
Murai
I
I
Dubousset
J
J
Yamada
T
T
Kimura
J
J
D006916:5-Hydroxytryptophan / Q000494:pharmacology; D000818:Animals; D002645:Chickens; D008297:Male; D008550:Melatonin / Q000172:deficiency / Q000502:physiology*; D010870:Pineal Gland / Q000502:physiology* / Q000601:surgery; D011187:Posture / Q000502:physiology; D011859:Radiography; D012018:Reflex / Q000502:physiology; D012600:Scoliosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D012701:Serotonin / Q000502:physiology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D013131:Spine / Q000254:growth & development
D012701:Serotonin; D006916:5-Hydroxytryptophan; D008550:Melatonin