Postmortem and Regional Changes of Serotonin, 5-Hydroxyindoleacetic Acid, and Tryptophan in Brain |
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Authors: | Iain M McIntyre Michael Stanley† |
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Institution: | Department of Psychiatry and †Departments of Psychiatry, Wayne State University School of Medicine;* Division of Pharmacology, Lafayette Clinic, Detroit, Michigan, U.S.A. |
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Abstract: | Using a specific and sensitive high pressure liquid chromatographic technique for the measurement of serotonin (5-HT), 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid (5-HIAA), and tryptophan (TRP), we found that there were no changes in 5-HT or 5-HIAA in the rat cortex when left in situ for 6 h at room temperature or 24 h at 4 degrees C. Only a minimal 14% increase in 5-HT was observed after 24 h at 4 degrees C in the striatum of the same animals. Concentrations of TRP, however, were increased significantly in both brain regions by these postmortem delay procedures. A second study revealed that there were significant regional 5-HT and 5-HIAA concentration differences within the cerebral cortex. The frontal cortex was shown to have the highest concentrations of 5-HT and 5-HIAA. Further, within the frontal cortex, 5-HIAA levels varied, showing apparent progressive rostral to caudal increases. 5-HT concentrations, however, remained constant within the frontal cortex. These results are discussed in reference to the conflicting reports of the previous human suicide and postmortem studies. |
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Keywords: | Serotonin 5-Hydroxyindoleacetic acid Postmortem/regional changes |
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