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Amino Acid Analysis Demonstrates that Increased Plasma Free Tryptophan Causes the Increase of Brain Tryptophan During Exercise in the Rat
Author(s) -
Chaouloff Francis,
Kennett Guy A.,
Serrurrier Bernard,
Merino Daniele,
Curzon Gerald
Publication year - 1986
Publication title -
journal of neurochemistry
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.75
H-Index - 229
eISSN - 1471-4159
pISSN - 0022-3042
DOI - 10.1111/j.1471-4159.1986.tb01789.x
Subject(s) - tryptophan , medicine , amino acid , endocrinology , threonine , chemistry , glycine , alanine , glutamine , lysine , biochemistry , biology , serine , enzyme
Rats were trained to run on a horizontal treadmill for 2 h at 20 m/min. This activity considerably increased plasma free tryptophan (TRP) (+ 70%) but did not alter plasma total TRP levels and had little or no effect on plasma concentrations of the other large neutral amino acids (LNAAs) that compete with TRP for entry into the brain. Brain TRP levels increased by 80%. The only other brain LNAA to be affected by exercise was threonine, which rose moderately. The results indicate that increased plasma free TRP was specifically responsible for the increase of brain TRP after 2 h of exercise. Brain lysine was also increased whereas glycine, alanine, and γ‐aminobutyric acid were decreased. The differences between the present findings and those previously obtained following 2 h immobilization stress are discussed.