title: Inhibition of rat liver tryptophan pyrrolase activity by fluoxetine.
abstract: The present study has demonstrated the effectiveness of acute administration of fluoxetine to inhibit rat liver tryptophan pyrrolase activity. The maximum inhibition of basal liver tryptophan pyrrolase activity at 2 h after administration was observed with 1 mg/kg dose for the total enzyme and apoenzyme activities and that significant inhibition of these two activities was evident with a dose of the drug as small as 0.5 mg/kg. Serum free tryptophan concentrations were also increased using 10 mg/kg dose of fluoxetine. In view of the role of tryptophan depletion and thus 5-HT in pathophysiology of depression, it is strongly suggested that the inhibition of liver tryptophan pyrrolase activity may be a major mechanism of antidepressant action.
authors.affiliation: Cardiff Community Health Care NHS Trust, Biomedical Research Laboratory, Witchurch Hospital, Cardiff CF4 7XB, UK.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bano
authors.forename: C J
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Morgan
authors.forename: A A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Badawy
authors.forename: P R
authors.initials: PR
authors.lastname: Buckland
authors.forename: P M
authors.initials: PM
authors.lastname: Guffin