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5‐hydroxyoxindole, an indole metabolite, is present at high concentrations in brain
Author(s) -
CrumeyrolleArias Michèle,
Tournaire MarieClaude,
Rabot Sylvie,
Malpaux Benoît,
Thiéry JeanClaude
Publication year - 2008
Publication title -
journal of neuroscience research
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.72
H-Index - 160
eISSN - 1097-4547
pISSN - 0360-4012
DOI - 10.1002/jnr.21475
Subject(s) - metabolite , photoperiodism , melatonin , pineal gland , cerebrospinal fluid , medicine , endocrinology , circadian rhythm , biology , pinealectomy , endogeny , nocturnal , tryptophanase , tryptophan , biochemistry , amino acid
5‐Hydroxyoxindole has been identified as a urinary metabolite of indole, which is produced from tryptophane via the tryptophanase activity of gut bacteria. We have demonstrated recently that 5‐hydroxyoxindole is an endogenous compound in blood and tissues of mammals, including humans. To date, 5‐hydroxyoxindole's role is unknown. The aim of this study was to compare 5‐hydroxyoxindole levels in plasma and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) during day‐night and seasonal changes, as a common approach to pilot physiological characterization of any compound. Simultaneous blood and CSF sampling was performed in the ewe, because its size allows collection in quantities suitable for 5‐hydroxyoxindole assay (HPLC‐ED) in awake animals, without obvious physiological or behavioral disturbance. 5‐Hydroxyoxindole concentration was quite stable in plasma (2–6 nM range), whereas, in CSF, it displayed marked day‐night and photoperiodic variations (4–116 nM range). 5‐Hydroxyoxindole levels in CSF were twofold higher at night than during the day and at least one order of magnitude higher during the long compared with the short photoperiod. These day/night and photoperiodic variations persisted after pinealectomy, indicating that 5‐hydroxyoxindole rhythms in CSF are independent of melatonin formation. In conclusion, high levels of 5‐hydroxyoxindole in the CSF during long photoperiod and its daily modulation suggest physiological involvement of 5‐hydroxyoxindole in rhythmic adjustments in the brain, independently of the pineal gland. © 2007 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.