title: Stimulation of NGF production by tryptophan and its metabolites in cultured mouse astroglial cells.
abstract: Effects of various amino acids and tryptophan metabolites on the synthesis of nerve growth factor (NGF) in cultured mouse astroglial cells were evaluated. L-Tryptophan stimulated NGF production in a dose-dependent manner. Serotonin and quinolinic acid slightly increased NGF synthesis. L-Kynurenine had a marked stimulatory effect on NGF production at a dose of 10 microM. In contrast, kynurenic acid had no effect on the reaction. L-Glutamine, L-glutamic acid, L-phenylalanine and L-methionine produced no significant change in NGF synthesis. These results were discussed in relation to the treatment of Alzheimer's diseases.
authors.affiliation: Nagoya University Bioscience Center, Chikusa, Japan.
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Dong-Ryul
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kondo
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Furukawa
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Nakano
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000831:Animals, Newborn; D001253:Astrocytes / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism*; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D007737:Kynurenine / Q000494:pharmacology; D051379:Mice; D008809:Mice, Inbred C3H; D009414:Nerve Growth Factors / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D017378:Quinolinic Acid / Q000494:pharmacology; D012701:Serotonin / Q000494:pharmacology; D014364:Tryptophan / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D009414:Nerve Growth Factors; D012701:Serotonin; D007737:Kynurenine; D014364:Tryptophan; D017378:Quinolinic Acid