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- Title
Low tryptophan diet decreases brain serotonin and alters response to apomorphine.
- Authors
SAHAKIAN, B. J.; WURTMAN, R. J.; BARR, J. K.; MILLINGTON, W. R.; CHIEL, H. J.
- Abstract
RATS fed on a low tryptophan diet since weaning have lower levels of brain serotonin than rats maintained on a control diet (18% casein diet)1,2. We have used such rats to investigate the role of the serotoninergic system in the regulation of a behaviour primarily controlled by dopaminergic neurotransmission-apomorphine-induced stereotyped behaviour3-5. This behaviour, which is induced by psychomotor stimulant drugs, including apomorphine and amphetamine3-6, is repetitive, preserverative behaviour that can be defined as the performance of an increasing rate of responses within a decreasing number of response categories6. In the rat, this is generally manifest as repetitive sniffing and motor movements, with repetitive licking and gnawing at higher drug levels. Although the mechanisms controlling stereotyped behaviour are primarily dopaminergic, there are other modulatory influences, for example cholinergic and noradrenergic7,8. Apomorphine is thought to act by direct stimulation of dopamine receptors in the telencephalon9,10. There is some evidence that serotoninergic mechanisms may be involved in stereotypy, because the integrity of the raphe nuclei is important for the expression of the stereotype response produced by apomorphine and other agents11. We have found that reductions in brain serotonin (5-HT) produced by diet result in decreased stereotypy after apomorphine administration.
- Publication
Nature, 1979, Vol 279, Issue 5715, p731
- ISSN
0028-0836
- Publication type
Article
- DOI
10.1038/279731a0