Pyridoxine, regardless of serotonin levels, increases production of 5-hydroxytryptophan in rat brain.
BACKGROUND
The aim of this study was to evaluate effects of pyridoxine and butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT) on lipid peroxidation and on levels of 5-hydroxytryptophan and serotonin.


METHODS
Thirty rats (30 days of age) were used in the survey, measuring levels of lipid peroxidation (TBARS), hemoglobin, 5-hydroxytryptophan (5-HTP), and serotonin (5-HT) after intraperitoneal (i.p.) injections of 4 and 10 mg/kg/day of pyridoxine HCl during 20 days and a single dose of 2 microM/kg (440 microg) of BHT.


RESULTS
Levels of TBARS and 5-HTP increased considerably (p <0.05) in all vitamin- and/or BHT-treated groups, and 5-HT increased partially (p <0.05) only in B(6) with or without BHT-treated groups compared with control group.


CONCLUSIONS
Results suggest that pyridoxine plays a role in tryptophan metabolism, increasing production of 5-HTP.
Laboratorio de Neuroquímica, Instituto Nacional de Pediatría, Mexico City, 04530 Mexico.
David
D
Calderón-Guzmán
José Luis
JL
Hernández-Islas
Ivonne
I
Espitia-Vázquez
Gerardo
G
Barragán-Mejía
Ernestina
E
Hernández-García
Daniel
D
Santamaría-del Angel
Hugo
H
Juárez-Olguín
D006916:5-Hydroxytryptophan / Q000378:metabolism*; D000818:Animals; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology; D001921:Brain / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism*; D002084:Butylated Hydroxytoluene / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology; D004032:Diet; D015227:Lipid Peroxidation; D011736:Pyridoxine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D012701:Serotonin / Q000378:metabolism*; D017392:Thiobarbituric Acid Reactive Substances / Q000378:metabolism
D000975:Antioxidants; D017392:Thiobarbituric Acid Reactive Substances; D002084:Butylated Hydroxytoluene; D012701:Serotonin; D006916:5-Hydroxytryptophan; D011736:Pyridoxine