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Kynurenine in Rat Hair

Nature volume 209, pages 913–914 (1966)Cite this article

Abstract

THE pelage of certain murine rodents contains substantial amounts of fluorescent tryptophan metabolites1. In the laboratory rat l-kynurenine2 is the principal compound present, with relatively small amounts of kynurenic acid, Nα-acetyl-l-kynurenine and other fluorescent compounds. It is interesting to know what drain this constitutes on the total tryptophan pool in the rat3,4; and since tryptophan has been suggested as a possible precursor of red hair pigment, phenomelanin5, how the amounts of kynurenine compare in the hair of rats with different coat colours.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. University of Miami School of Medicine, Miami, Florida

    G. REBELL

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  1. G. REBELL
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REBELL, G. Kynurenine in Rat Hair. Nature 209, 913–914 (1966). https://doi.org/10.1038/209913a0

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