Abstract
Over the last two decades the relationship between plasma tryptophan (TRP) and brain serotonin (5-hydroxytryptamine, 5-HT) synthesis and function has been extensively investigated and many of the factors influencing the transport of TRP into the brain have been elucidated. This is of particular relevance in psychiatry because of longstanding interest in the involvement of 5-HT in processes such as the control of appetite and macronutrient selection, mood and sleep. If physiological alterations in plasma TRP can result in altered brain 5-HT function, this is of potential etiological and therapeutic importance in psychiatric conditions such as depression and eating disorders.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
Preview
Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.
References
Anderson, I.M., and Cowen, P.J., 1986, Clomipramine enhances prolactin and growth hormone responses to L-tryptophan, Psychopharmacology, 89: 131–133.
Anderson, I.M., Cowen, P.J., and Grahame-Smith, D.G., 1988, The effect of BRL 43694 on the neuroendocrine responses to L-tryptophan infusion, J. Psychopharmacol., 2:Abstract.
Anderson, I.M., Crook, W.S., Gartside, S.E., Parry-Billings, M., Newsholme, E.A., and Cowen, P.J., 1989, The effect of moderate weight loss on prolactin secretion in normal female volunteers, Psychiat. Res., 29: 161–167.
Carlsson, M., Svensson, K., Eriksson, E., and Carlsson, A., 1985, Rat brain serotonin: biochemical and functional evidence for a sex difference, J. Neural Trans., 63: 297–313.
Charig, E.M., Anderson, I.M., Robinson, J.M., Nutt, D.J., and Cowen, P.J., 1986, L-tryptophan and prolactin release: evidence for interaction between 5-HT1 and 5-HT2 receptors, Human Psychopharmacol., 1: 93–97.
Charney, D.S., Heninger, G.R., Reinhard, Jr., J.F., Sternberg, D.E., and Hafstead, K.M., 1982, The effect of intravenous L-tryptophan on prolactin and growth hormone and mood in healthy subjects, Psychopharmacology, 77: 217–222.
Clemens, J.A., Bennett, D.R., and Fuller, R.W., 1980, The effect of a tryptophan-free diet on prolactin and corticosterone release by serotonergic stimuli, Horm. Metab. Res., 12: 35–38.
Cowen, P.J., Gadhui, H., Gosden B., and Kolakowska T., 1985, Responses of prolactin and growth hormone to L-tryptophan infusion: effects in normal subjects and schizophrenic subjects receiving neuroleptics, Psychopharmacology, 86: 164–169.
Delgado, P.L., Charney, D.S., Price, L.H., Landis, H., and Heninger, G.R., 1989, Neuroendocrine and behavioral effects of diet tryptophan restriction in healthy subjects, Life Sci., in press.
Eccleston, D., Ashcroft, G.W., Crawford, T.B.B., Stanton, J.B., Wood, D., and McTurk, P.H., 1970, Effect of tryptophan administration on 5-HIAA in cerebrospinal fluid in man, J. Neurol. Neurosurg. Psychiatr., 33: 269–272.
Fernstrom, J.D., and Wurtman, R.J., 1971, Brain serotonin content: physiological dependence on plasma tryptophan levels, Science, 173: 149–152.
Fernstrom, J.D., and Wurtman, R.J., 1972, Brain serotonin content: physiological regulation by plasma neutral amino acids, Science, 178: 414–416.
Fernstrom, J.D., 1988, Tryptophan availability and serotonin synthesis in brain, in: “Amino Acid Availability and Brain Function in Health and Disease”, Huether, G., ed., Springer, Berlin, pp. 137–146.
Fichter, M.M., Pirke, K.-M., and Holsboer, F., 1984, Weight loss causes neuroendocrine disturbances: experimental study in healthy starving subjects, Psychiat. Res., 17: 61–72.
Gil-Ad, I., Zambotti, F., Carruba, M.O., Vicentini, I., and Muller, E.E., 1976, Stimulatory role for brain serotonergic system on prolactin secretion in the male rat, Proc. Soc. Exper. Biol. Med., 151: 512–518.
Gillman, P.K., Bartlett, J.R., Bridges, P.K., Hunt, A., Patel, A.J., Kantamaneni, A.J., and Curzon, G., 1981, Indolic substances in plasma, CSF and frontal cortex of human subjects infused with saline or L-tryptophan, J. Neurochem., 37: 410–417.
Goodwin, G.M., Fairburn, C.G., and Cowen, P.J., 1987, Dieting changes serotonergic function in women, not men: implications for the aetiology of anorexia nervosa, Psychol. Med., 17: 839–842.
Grahame-Smith, D.G., 1971, Studies in vivo on the relationship between brain tryptophan, brain 5-HT synthesis and hyperactivity in rats treated with a monoamine oxidase inhibitor and L-tryptophan, J. Neurochem., 18: 1053–1066.
Knott, P.J., and Curzon, G., 1973, Free tryptophan in plasma and brain tryptophan metabolism, Nature, 239: 452–453.
Lakoski, J.M., and Aghajanian, G.K., 1985, Effects of ketanserin on neuronal responses to serotonin in the prefrontal cortex, lateral geniculate and dorsal raphe nucleus, Neuropharmacology, 24: 265–273.
McCance, S.L., Cowen, P.J., Waller, H., and Grahame-Smith, D.G., 1987, The effect of metergoline on endocrine responses to L-tryptophan, J. Psychopharmacol., 1: 90–94.
Moir, A.T.B., and Eccleston, D., 1968, The effects of precursor loading on the cerebral metabolism of 5-hydroxyindoles, J. Neurochem., 15: 1093–1108.
Mueller, G.P., Twohy, C.P., Chen, H.T., Advis, J.P., and Meites, J., 1976, Effects of L-tryptophan and restraint stress on hypothalamic and brain serotonin turnover, and pituitary TSH and prolactin release in rats, Life Sci., 18: 715–724.
Oldendorf, W.H., and Szabo, J., 1976, Amino acid assignment to one of three blood-brain barrier amino acid carriers, Am. J. Physiol., 230: 94–98.
Trulson, M.E., and Jacobs, B.L., 1976, Dose response relationship between systemically administered L-tryptophan or L-5-hydroxytryptophan and raphe unit activity in the rat, Neuropharmacology, 15: 339–344.
van Praag, H.M., Asnis, G., and Zukin, S., 1986, Peripheral hormones: a window on the central MA? Psychopharmacol. Bull., 22: 565–570.
Young, S.N., and Gauthier, S., 1981, Effect of tryptophan administration on tryptophan, hydroxyindo1eacetic acid and indoleacetic acid in human lumbar and cisternal cerebrospinal fluid, J. Neurol. Neurosurg. Psychiat., 44: 323–328.
Young, S.N., Gauthier, S., Anderson, G.M., and Purdy, W.C., 1980, Tryptophan, 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid and indoleacetic acid in human cerebrospinal fluid: interrelationships and the influence of age, sex, epilepsy and anticonvulsant drugs, J. Neurol. Neurosurg. Psychiat., 43: 438–445.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 1991 Plenum Press, New York
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
Anderson, I., Cowen, P. (1991). Neuroendocrine Responses to L-Tryptophan as an Index of Brain Serotonin Function: Effect of Weight Loss. In: Schwarcz, R., Young, S.N., Brown, R.R. (eds) Kynurenine and Serotonin Pathways. Advances in Experimental Medicine and Biology, vol 294. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4684-5952-4_22
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4684-5952-4_22
Publisher Name: Springer, Boston, MA
Print ISBN: 978-1-4684-5954-8
Online ISBN: 978-1-4684-5952-4
eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive