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Daily variations in in vivo tryptophan hydroxylation and in the contents of serotonin and 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid in discrete brain areas of the rat

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Summary

The in vivo rate of brain tryptophan hydroxylation was determined through 5-hydroxytryptophan accumulation (5-HTPacc) following the administration of NSD 1015, a L-aromatic amino-acid decarboxylase inhibitor. This measurement was performed every 4 h throughout a 24 h hour period in 10 discrete brain areas of rats maintained on a regular 12 h/12 h light-dark cycle. The concentrations of 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) and 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid (5-HIAA) were also determined in untreated rats. Daily variations in 5-HTPacc were found in all the areas studied, the 5-HTPacc being higher during the dark period in most structures. These results strongly suggest that tryptophan hydroxylation is involved in the control of the 5-HT biosynthesis circadian rhythm. However, various patterns of 5-HT and 5-HIAA daily variations were observed, suggesting that the circadian factors affecting serotonin metabolism can be different among brain areas.

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  1. L. Poncet

    Present address: Département de Médecine Expérimentale, INSERM U 52 - CNRS URA 1195, Université Claude Bernard, Lyon, France

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  1. Département de Médecine Expérimentale, INSERM U 52 - CNRS URA 1195, Université Claude Bernard, Lyon, France

    L. Denoroy & M. Jouvet

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  1. L. Poncet
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  2. L. Denoroy
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  3. M. Jouvet
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Poncet, L., Denoroy, L. & Jouvet, M. Daily variations in in vivo tryptophan hydroxylation and in the contents of serotonin and 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid in discrete brain areas of the rat. J. Neural Transmission 92, 137–150 (1993). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01244873

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01244873

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