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Increase of Brain Tryptophan caused by Drugs which stimulate Serotonin Synthesis

Nature New Biology volume 229, pages 125–126 (1971)Cite this article

Abstract

THE concentrations of tryptophan normally present in the mammalian brain are below the Michaelis constant (Km) of tryptophan hydroxylase1,2, suggesting that the rate of serotonin synthesis depends more on the concentration of brain tryptophan than on the amount of enzyme. We wish to report that various treatments which have been shown to increase brain serotonin synthesis also increase the concentration of tryptophan in brain. Conversely, p-chlorophenylalanine (PCPA), which inhibits serotonin synthesis3, decreases tryptophan in brain.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Laboratory of Chemical Pharmacology, National Heart and Lung Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, 20014

    ALESSANDRO TAGLIAMONTE, PAOLA TAGLIAMONTE, JORGE PEREZ-CRUET & GIAN L. GESSA

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  1. ALESSANDRO TAGLIAMONTE
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  2. PAOLA TAGLIAMONTE
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  3. JORGE PEREZ-CRUET
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  4. GIAN L. GESSA
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TAGLIAMONTE, A., TAGLIAMONTE, P., PEREZ-CRUET, J. et al. Increase of Brain Tryptophan caused by Drugs which stimulate Serotonin Synthesis. Nature New Biology 229, 125–126 (1971). https://doi.org/10.1038/newbio229125a0

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