title: Association of metabolic syndrome with reduced central serotonergic activity.
abstract: The aim of this study was to determine the differences between two groups of adolescents with metabolic syndrome (MetS) and normal controls in relation to brain serotonergic activity through intensity-dependent auditory-evoked potentials (IDAEPs) and plasma free fraction of L-tryptophan. Eighteen adolescents with MetS and thirteen controls were studied. Free fraction, bound and total plasma L-tryptophan, glucose, cholesterol, triglycerides, HDL-cholesterol, albumin and IDAEPs were determined. Glycemia, triglycerides were significantly elevated, and HDL-cholesterol in plasma was significantly reduced. Free fraction and free fraction/total L-tryptophan ratio were decreased. The slope of the amplitude/stimulus intensity function of the N1/P2 component significantly increased in adolescents with MetS. Decrease of free fraction of L-tryptophan in plasma and increase of the slope of the N1/P2 component suggest a low brain serotonin tone. Cortex responses are regulated by serotonergic innervations and may show a different behavior in young patients with MetS. Therefore, the slope of the N1/P2 component along with the free fraction of L-tryptophan in plasma, indicate that in adolescents with MetS the state of serotonergic brain activity is depressed and possibly related to psychiatric disorders.
authors.affiliation: Service of Endocrinology, Pediatric Hospital, National Medical Center, Mexican Institute of Social Security, Mexico City, Mexico.
authors.forename: Rocio
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Herrera-Marquez
authors.forename: Jorge
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Hernandez-Rodriguez
authors.forename: Julio
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Medina-Serrano
authors.forename: Alfonso
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Boyzo-Montes de Oca
authors.forename: Gabriel
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Manjarrez-Gutierrez
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D001303:Auditory Cortex / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000378:metabolism; D001923:Brain Chemistry; D002648:Child; D008076:Cholesterol, HDL / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005072:Evoked Potentials, Auditory / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D024821:Metabolic Syndrome / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology; D012701:Serotonin / Q000378:metabolism*; D014280:Triglycerides / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism; D014364:Tryptophan / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D001786:Blood Glucose; D008076:Cholesterol, HDL; D014280:Triglycerides; D012701:Serotonin; D014364:Tryptophan