BRAIN SEROTONERGIC ACTIVITY AND PLASMA AMINO-ACID LEVELS IN GENETICALLY-OBESE ZUCKER RATS
BRAIN SEROTONERGIC ACTIVITY AND PLASMA AMINO-ACID LEVELS IN GENETICALLY-OBESE ZUCKER RATS
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DOI:
10.1016/0091-3057(82)90476-2
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发表时间:
1982-01-01
影响因子:
3.6
通讯作者:
FISCHER, JE
中科院分区:
文献类型:
--
作者:
FINKELSTEIN, JA;CHANCE, WT;FISCHER, JE
To test the hypothesis that serotonergic activity is abnormal in the brains of genetically obese Zucker rats, levels of serotonin (5-HT), its amino acid precursor tryptophan (Trp) and its major metabolite 5-hydroxy IAA (5-HIAA) were measured in 8 brain regions in groups of obese and nonobese male rats. Plasma albumin levels as well as levels of amino acids and related compounds in plasma and in a cortical sample were also determined in the same animals. While Trp was slower in several brain regions of the obese animals, the only region showing a depressed level of 5-HT in the obese group was the mesencephalon. Obese animals also had a lower amount of 5-HIAA in the diencephalon, but no other differences were significant. Both elevations and depressions were observed in cortical amino acid levels in obese animals. The level of plasma albumin was increased in the obese group. Free Trp was decreased in the plasma of obese rats while levels of other amino acids (Met, Leu, Ile, Val and Phe) which compete with Trp for transport across the blood-brain barrier were elevated. The combination of lower plasma free Trp and increased levels of competitive amino acids appears to contribute to decreased levels of Trp in the brain of genetically obese rats.