Abstract
Administration of tryptophan to the rat results in an increased synthesis of 5-hydroxytryptamine (5HT) in the brain. (Ashcroft et al., 1965), because the rate-limiting enzyme in 5HT synthesis, tryptophan hydroxylase, is not normally saturated with tryptophan (Friedman et al., 1972). This is important physiologically as amounts of tryptophan as small as one twentieth of a rat’s normal daily intake can result in a significant rise of plasma and brain tryptophan and of brain 5HT (Fernstrom and Wurtman, 1971). In humans, as in rats, tryptophan administration will increase CNS 5HT synthesis (Eccleston et al.,1970). The fact that the level of a dietary component (tryptophan) can control the synthesis of a neurotransmitter (5HT) that is implicated in the control of various aspects of mood and the etiology of neuropsychiatric disorders is of obvious interest. Therefore we have attempted to gain more information on the role of tryptophan availability in controlling indoleamine synthesis and function in human CNS. The specific questions we have attempted to answer for humans are: (i) What is the relationship between plasma and brain tryptophan? (ii) Is control of the brain 5HT by tryptophan availability physiologically important? (iii) Is tryptophan availability important in controlling the synthesis of a related indoleamine, tryptamine? (iv) To what extent can tryptophan administration influence brain 5HT and tryptamine synthesis? (v) Can tryptophan administration influence indoleamine function as well as indoleamine synthesis?
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© 1981 Plenum Press, New York
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Young, S.N., Gauthier, S. (1981). Tryptophan Availability and the Control of 5-Hydroxytryptamine and Tryptamine Synthesis in Human CNS. In: Haber, B., Gabay, S., Issidorides, M.R., Alivisatos, S.G.A. (eds) Serotonin. Advances in Experimental Medicine and Biology, vol 133. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4684-3860-4_12
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4684-3860-4_12
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