5-Methoxytryptophol: Effect on Estrus and Ovarian Weight

McIsaac, William M.; Taborsky, Robert G.; Farrell, Gordon

doi:10.1126/science.145.3627.63

Cited by 109 publications

(21 citation statements)

References 6 publications

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“…This compound is formed in the pineal gland from 5-hydroxytryptophol and reduces ovarian weight as well as decreasing estrus in maturing rats (47). Delvigs et al (46) suggest it is rapidly metabolized (as indicated by radioactivity in the urine), and additionally showed high levels in thyroid, adrenals, ovaries, and uterus.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Rapid distribution of tryptophol (3-indole ethanol) to the brain and other tissues.

Cornford¹,

Bocash²,

Braun³

et al. 1979

J. Clin. Invest.

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A B S T R A C T Tryptophol (3-indole ethanol) is a compound which induces sleep, and is formed: (a) in the liver after disulfiram treatment, and (b) by the parasite in trypanosomal sleeping sickness. We prepared, purified, and characterized radiolabeled tryptophol for the purpose of defining its tissue distribution in animals. Tryptophol was found to be highly lipophilic, with an octanol: water partition coefficient of 29.8. Brain extraction, determined after intracarotid injection, was high (brain uptake index = 117+3.5%), and nonsaturable, suggesting the absence of a carrier system. After intravenous administration, tryptophol distribution to tissues correlated with relative blood flow. More than 85% of the radioactivity remaining in brain 2-5 min after intravenous injection co-migrated with tryptophol standards when analyzed by thin-layer chromatography. Other evidence suggested that tryptophol binds to serum and in vivo may be stripped from serum albumin and taken up by brain in a single capillary transit. Our study suggests that in states such as trypanosomal sleeping sickness or disulfiram treatment, remotely formed tryptophol gains ready access to brain (it is 100% cleared in a single capillary passage), and could thus cause somnolence.

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Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Rapid distribution of tryptophol (3-indole ethanol) to the brain and other tissues.

Cornford¹,

Bocash²,

Braun³

et al. 1979

J. Clin. Invest.

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“…5-Methoxytryptophol inhibits a wide range of test models used to evaluate reproductive competency in female mammals (Vaughan, 1981), Injections of ML can decrease ovarian weight and the frequency of estrus in rats (McIsaac et al, 1964), delay the onset of puberty in rats (Fraschini et al, 1975), inhibit compensatory ovarian hypertrophy in mice (Vaughan et aL, 1972), inhibit HCG-induced hypertrophy of the gonads and uterine weight in mice (Hipkin, 1970;Vaughan et aL, 1976) and modestly inhibit coitus-induced ovulation in rabbits (Farrell et aL, 1968). In the present study, female hamsters treated with ML for 7 weeks had decreased pituitary and increased plasma concentrations of prolactin.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The responses of the reproductive system and plasma levels of thyroid hormones to afternoon injections ofaML and ML have been tested in the male hamster but never in the female Vaughan et al, 1983). Earlier reports, however, suggest that aML and ML may have important inhibitory effects on the estrous cycle of rats (McIsaac et al, 1964;Taborsky and Delvigs, 1966). Thus, we decided to examine the role of aML and ML on the endocrine system of the female Syrian hamster and to compare the effects obtained with those previously described for melatonin Trakulrungsi et al, 1979).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 97%

Effects of afternoon injections of O-acetyl-5-methoxytryptophol, melatonin or 5-methoxytryptophol in female syrian hamsters

Little

Vaughan

Haider

et al. 1986

J. Neural Transmission

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Female Syrian hamsters were maintained in a 14:10 light: dark photoperiod (lights on 6 a.m.) and injected each afternoon between 4 p.m. and 6 p.m. with diluent or with 25 micrograms melatonin, O-acetyl-5-methoxytryptophol (aML) or 5-methoxytryptophol (ML). After 7 or 12 weeks of treatment, only the melatonin-treated hamsters were acyclic. Gross inspection of their ovaries revealed that they were smooth, brown, and devoid of corpora lutea and large follicles. Progesterone levels of the acyclic animals were midway between the high levels observed during estrus and postestrus and the low levels observed on cycle days 2 and 3. Additionally, the melatonin-treated hamsters had significantly reduced uterine weights and pituitary and plasma levels of prolactin. Hamsters treated with aML had significantly lower pituitary prolactin and plasma and pituitary levels of LH only at the 7 week timepoint. ML-treated hamsters had lower pituitary prolactin levels also at 7 weeks. The endocrine changes wrought by injections of aML and ML, however, were insufficient to ultimately affect vaginal cyclicity. In conclusion, it would appear that at the dose used and the time administered melatonin is the more active of the indoles tested in the female hamster, at least in terms of alterations in reproductive physiology.

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“…Melatonin and 5-methoxytryptophol are both involved in the regulation of reproduction, and both have been observed to show stimulatory (Thi~blot et al, 1966;Balemans, 1973) as well as inhibitory (Wurtman et al, 1963;Mclsaac et al, 1964;Balemans et al, 1977 a, b) effects. Therefore it seemed of interest to perform experiments in which the influence of white, red and green light in a light/dark rhythm on the circadian rhythmicity of N-and O-acetyltransferase activity would be studied.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 95%

Changes in the circadian rhythmicity of N- and O-acetyltransferase activities in the pineal gland of 38 day old male Wistar rats when examined under white, red and green light

Balemans

Smith

Reuver

1981

J. Neural Transmission

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N-acetyltransferase activity was quantified in the pineal gland of 38 day-old male Wistar rats under different experimental conditions. Under daily white light/dark photoperiods (12 L : 12 D), N-acetyltransferase activity showed a peak of activity at midnight for the synthesis of both N-acetylserotonin and melatonin. Using red light instead of white light a shift of the enzyme activity involved in the production of both compounds towards the preceding light period was observed. Using green light instead of white light the enzyme activity shifted to later periods. Under white light/dark conditions pineal O-acetyltransferase activity when quantified was maximal during the early hours of the night. With periodic red light this maximal activity was extended over a longer period including late hours of the preceding day and later hours of the night. Periodic illumination with green light caused a peak of activity at midnight and an increase of activity at then end of the dark period. A possible relationship between previous results obtained on the influence of pterins on HIOMT activity and the effects of light on reproduction is discussed.

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5-Methoxytryptophol: Effect on Estrus and Ovarian Weight

Abstract: Daily injection of 5-methoxytryptophol in microgram quantities in rats decreased the incidence of estrus and reduced ovarian weight in maturing animals.

Cited by 109 publications

References 6 publications

Rapid distribution of tryptophol (3-indole ethanol) to the brain and other tissues.

Rapid distribution of tryptophol (3-indole ethanol) to the brain and other tissues.

Effects of afternoon injections of O-acetyl-5-methoxytryptophol, melatonin or 5-methoxytryptophol in female syrian hamsters

Changes in the circadian rhythmicity of N- and O-acetyltransferase activities in the pineal gland of 38 day old male Wistar rats when examined under white, red and green light

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