Stress-mediated decreases in brain-derived neurotrophic factor as potential confounding factor for acute tryptophan depletion-induced neurochemical effects.
Acute tryptophan depletion (ATD) is extensively used to investigate the implication of serotonin (5-hydroxytryptamine; 5-HT) in the onset and treatment of depression and cognitive disorders. Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) is strongly linked to the 5-HT system and plays an essential role in mood and memory processes. The present study investigated the effects of ATD upon BDNF in serum, hippocampus and prefrontal cortex in the rat to further explore the underlying mechanism of ATD. ATD significantly decreased peripheral tryptophan (TRP) levels and moderately interrupted 5-HT metabolism 4h after administration of the nutritional mixture. Although no direct effects of ATD upon serum or brain BDNF concentrations were found, a stress-mediated, decrease in BDNF was observed in the prefrontal cortex. Moreover, brain TRP levels correlated positively with BDNF in both the prefrontal cortex and hippocampus. Thus, BDNF-mediated mechanisms due to ATD and/or its application stress might underlie ATD-induced neurochemical and behavioural alterations.
van Donkelaar
Eva L
EL
Department of Neuroscience, Faculty of Health, Medicine and Life Sciences, School for Mental Health and Neuroscience, Maastricht University, 6200 MD Maastricht, The Netherlands. eva.vandonkelaar@np.unimaas.nl
van den Hove
Daniël L A
DL
Blokland
Arjan
A
Steinbusch
Harry W M
HW
Prickaerts
Jos
J
D000596:Amino Acids / Q000097:blood; D000818:Animals; D001923:Brain Chemistry / Q000502:physiology*; D019208:Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor / Q000097:blood*; D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; D050528:Diet, Carbohydrate-Restricted / Q000379:methods; D055664:Electrochemical Techniques / Q000379:methods; D008297:Male; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D012701:Serotonin / Q000378:metabolism; D013223:Statistics as Topic; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000097:blood* / Q000473:pathology; D013997:Time Factors; D014364:Tryptophan / Q000172:deficiency*
D000596:Amino Acids; D019208:Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor; D012701:Serotonin; D014364:Tryptophan