Manipulations of dietary tryptophan: Effects on mouse killing and brain serotonin in the rat

Gibbons, Judith L.; Barr, Gordon A.; Bridger, Wagner H.; Leibowitz, Sarah F.

doi:10.1016/0006-8993(79)90380-9

Cited by 132 publications

(42 citation statements)

References 52 publications

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“…Furthermore, rodents that had their dorsal raphe lesioned and those that were injected with serotonergic antagonists exhibited increased levels of aggression (6 8, 25, 35, 36). TRP depletion also increased mouse-kill ing behavior and shock-induced aggression in rats (26,(29)(30)(31)(32). These studies strongly support the contention that dietary modulation of TRP might affect emotional behavior in mammals.…”

supporting

confidence: 74%

Chronic Reduction in Dietary Tryptophan Leads to Changes in the Emotional Response to Stress in Mice

Uchida

Kitamoto²,

Umeeda

et al. 2005

Journal of Nutritional Science and Vitaminology, J Nutr Sci Vit

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SummaryAcute depletion of brain tryptophan (TRP) levels in humans has been used as a biochemical model of depression. In this study, we examined the effects of consumption of a diet low in TRP on emotional behavior in mice. Specifically, we assessed various parame ters of emotional behavior in mice fed a TRP-limited diet for at least 1 mo. TRP-limited mice showed increased defensive, but not offensive, aggression in the resident-intruder test. In the social dominance tube test, these mice showed enhanced social dominance. Since defensive aggression is thought to be a reflection of not only aggression but also fear, these changes in the social behavior of TRP-limited mice are thought to reflect changes in their emotional status. TRP-limited mice also showed increased locomotor activity and mobility in the open field and forced swim tests, respectively, suggesting that their stress/emotional responsive ness was enhanced. Importantly, these mice displayed normal levels of anxiety and motor performance as determined by the elevated zero maze and open field tests, and the rotarod test, respectively, suggesting that their hyperactivity was not due to a reduction in anxiety levels or to enhancement of their motor performance. Thus, dietary TRP restriction appears to result in alterations in the emotional response to stress, in mice.

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supporting

confidence: 74%

Chronic Reduction in Dietary Tryptophan Leads to Changes in the Emotional Response to Stress in Mice

Uchida

Kitamoto²,

Umeeda

et al. 2005

Journal of Nutritional Science and Vitaminology, J Nutr Sci Vit

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“…Dietary proteins tend to block these effects by contributing large amounts of LNAA to the blood stream. Considerable amounts of evidence in animals and healthy humans (70)(71)(72)(73)(74)(75)(76) show that a restricted diet significantly lowers plasma TRP, resulting in a decreased plasma ratio of TRP to neutral amino acids, and, in turn, a reduction in the availability of TRP to the brain. Thus, restricted diet (and experimentally reduced TRP) decreases brain 5-HT synthesis, downregulates the density of 5-HT transporters (77), and produces a compensatory supersensitivity of postsynaptic receptors in response to reduced 5-HT turnover (78,79) Limited data show that malnourished and emaciated AN women have a reduction of plasma TRP availability (80).…”

Section: Diet and Brain 5-ht Neurotransmissionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Neurobiology of anorexia and bulimia nervosa

Kaye

2008

Physiology & Behavior

521

385

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“…Preclinical studies demonstrated that dietary restriction of TRP could evoke modest reductions in plasma and brain TRP (Fernstrom 1977), with corresponding behavioral indices reflecting diminished 5-HT function (Lytle et al 1975;Messing et al 1976;Gibbons et al 1979; Moja et al Walters et al 1979). Dietary TRP restriction in both animals and humans has subsequently been associated with enhanced response to neuroendocrine challenges in a manner consistent with compensatory postsynaptic supersensitivity (Clemens et al 1980;Delgado et al 1989), again suggesting that the depletion is diminishing 5-HT function at a central nervous system (CNS) level.…”

Section: The Tryptophan (Trp) Depletion Paradigm Has Been Employed Tomentioning

confidence: 99%

Tryptophan Depletion During Continuous CSF Sampling in Healthy Human Subjects

Carpenter

Anderson

Pelton

et al. 1998

Neuropsychopharmacology

282

237

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The tryptophan (TRP) depletion paradigm has been employed to investigate mood and behavioral effects of acutely lowering plasma TRP, and presumably brain serotonin (5-hydroxytryptamine [5-HT]) levels through administration of a special diet and/or amino acid drink. Our goal was to test the assumption that a corresponding fall in central levels of TRP and 5-HT (measured by its major metabolite, 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid [5-HIAA]) occurs during the standard execution of this method in healthy adult subjects. Three males and two females completed the protocol, which included a one-day low-TRP diet and a TRP-free amino acid drink. Lumbar puncture was performed, with placement of an indwelling catheter connected to a peristaltic pump and fraction collector.Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) was sampled continuously for a 13.5-hour period (before, during, and The role of serotonin (5-hydroxytryptamine, 5-HT) in the pathogenesis and treatment of major neuropsychiatric disorders, especially depression, continues to be the subject of intensive research (Maes and Meltzer 1995). One paradigm for studying the role of 5-HT involves acutely manipulating levels of its amino acid precursor, tryptophan (TRP), and measuring corresponding behavioral effects. Because the synthesis of 5-HT is dependent on the availability of TRP, rapidly-induced shifts in the central level of TRP should produce transient alterations in the amount of 5-HT available for neurotransmission (Schaechter and Wurtman 1990;Young 1991). Observed or reported changes in behavior or psychiatric symptoms occurring during acute TRP manipulation have provided clues about the mechanism of action of serotonergic drugs, and the biology of several psychiatric disorders.Beginning in the 1970s, researchers have developed several strategies for altering TRP levels, in efforts to explore the relationship between the precursor amino acid, serotonergic function, and behavior. Preclinical studies demonstrated that dietary restriction of TRP could evoke modest reductions in plasma and brain TRP (Fernstrom 1977), with corresponding behavioral indices reflecting diminished 5-HT function (Lytle et al. 1975;Messing et al. 1976;Gibbons et al. 1979; Moja et al. Walters et al. 1979). Dietary TRP restriction in both animals and humans has subsequently been associated with enhanced response to neuroendocrine challenges in a manner consistent with compensatory postsynaptic supersensitivity (Clemens et al. 1980;Delgado et al. 1989), again suggesting that the depletion is diminishing 5-HT function at a central nervous system (CNS) level. More rapid decreases in plasma and brain TRP levels can be achieved by the administration of a TRP-free amino acid mixture Young et al. 1995;Moja et al. 1988). Here the mechanism involves providing substrate for induction of protein synthesis to such a degree that available peripheral TRP stores are largely used up, resulting in a drop in the ratio of TRP to other large neutral amino acids in plasma (Harper et al. 1970). Because TRP competes with the other lar...

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Manipulations of dietary tryptophan: Effects on mouse killing and brain serotonin in the rat

Cited by 132 publications

References 52 publications

Chronic Reduction in Dietary Tryptophan Leads to Changes in the Emotional Response to Stress in Mice

Chronic Reduction in Dietary Tryptophan Leads to Changes in the Emotional Response to Stress in Mice

Neurobiology of anorexia and bulimia nervosa

Tryptophan Depletion During Continuous CSF Sampling in Healthy Human Subjects

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