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Dihydropteridine reductase activity in the brainstem of intrauterine growth‐restricted rats
Author(s) -
ManjarrezGutierrez Gabriel,
GonzalezRamirez Misael,
BoyzoMontes de Oca Alfonso,
HernandezRodriguez Jorge
Publication year - 2010
Publication title -
international journal of developmental neuroscience
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.761
H-Index - 88
eISSN - 1873-474X
pISSN - 0736-5748
DOI - 10.1016/j.ijdevneu.2010.07.227
Subject(s) - endocrinology , tryptophan hydroxylase , medicine , tetrahydrobiopterin , serotonin , brainstem , biopterin , tryptophan , hyperphenylalaninemia , offspring , biology , chemistry , serotonergic , pregnancy , biochemistry , phenylalanine , nitric oxide synthase , amino acid , receptor , genetics , nitric oxide
The aim of this study was to determine whether intrauterine growth restriction produces an increase of dihydropteridine reductase activity as a compensatory mechanism that maintains the necessary concentration of cofactor, tetrahydrobiopterin, during accelerated brain serotonin biosynthesis. Intrauterine growth‐restricted offspring and controls were used. On days 1, 10, 15 and 21 of life, the brainstem was dissected and l ‐tryptophan, serotonin, tryptophan‐5‐hydroxylase and dihydropteridine reductase activities were determined. Intrauterine growth‐restricted pups showed a significant increase of l ‐tryptophan, 5‐hydroxytryptamine, tryptophan‐5‐hydroxylase and also dihydropteridine activity in the brainstem in comparison to normal pups. These results confirm that intrauterine growth restriction produces an increase of serotonin biosynthesis in the brainstem. This is accompanied by an increase in dihydropteridine activity that appears to be a compensatory mechanism to maintain sufficient tetrahydrobiopterin for the donation of electrons during the accelerated synthesis of brain serotonin in intrauterine growth‐restricted rats.