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Changes in neurotransmitter levels associated with the deficiency of some essential amino acids in the diet

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  09 March 2007

José L. Venero ,
Antonio J. Herrera ,
Alberto Machado  and
Josefina Cano
José L. Venero
Affiliation:
Departamento de Bioquímica, Bromatología y Toxicología, Universidad de Sevilla, C/ Prof. Garcia González s/n, 41012-Sevilla, Spain
Antonio J. Herrera
Affiliation:
Departamento de Bioquímica, Bromatología y Toxicología, Universidad de Sevilla, C/ Prof. Garcia González s/n, 41012-Sevilla, Spain
Alberto Machado
Affiliation:
Departamento de Bioquímica, Bromatología y Toxicología, Universidad de Sevilla, C/ Prof. Garcia González s/n, 41012-Sevilla, Spain
Josefina Cano
Affiliation:
Departamento de Bioquímica, Bromatología y Toxicología, Universidad de Sevilla, C/ Prof. Garcia González s/n, 41012-Sevilla, Spain
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Abstract

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The contents of dopamine (DA) and serotonin (5-HT) and their metabolites were measured in rat substantia nigra and corpus striatum following dietary changes, including restriction of protein content (low-protein diet; LPD) and the contents of several large neutral amino acids (isoleucine, leucine, methionine, phenylalanine, tryptophan and valine) for 25 d. The LPD produced an increase in the concentration of tyrosine (TYR) in the two regions of the brain studied. This effect was also observed with all amino acid deficiencies studied except for valine in the substantia nigra, tryptophan in the striatum and phenylalanine in both regions. Likewise, the concentration of 5-hydroxyindolacetic acid (5-HIAA), the main metabolite of 5-HT, increased in the substantia nigra but not in the striatum after LPD, as well as with all the amino acid deficiencies studied, with the exception of tryptophan deficiency. In this case there was a dramatic effect on all components of the serotoninergic system, with decreases in the concentration of tryptophan (TRP; precursor), 5-HT and 5-HIAA. This behaviour clearly shows an interrelationship between precursor (TRP) availability and 5-HT synthesis and metabolism. With valine deficiency, dopaminergic and serotoninergic systems demonstrated opposite effects in the substantia nigra and the corpus striatum, and the behaviour of the two monoamines was also opposite within each structure. The significance of these changes is discussed.

Keywords

Substantia nigraStriatumMalnutritionMonoamines
Type
Amino Acid Metabolism
Information
British Journal of Nutrition , Volume 68 , Issue 2 , September 1992 , pp. 409 - 420
Copyright
Copyright © The Nutrition Society 1992

References

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