engleski

Physiological consequences of perinatal treatment of rats with 5-hydroxytryptophan

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Serotonin (5-hydroxytryptamine, 5HT) is present in brain and peripheral tissues and mediates various physiological functions. It also regulates perinatal development of serotonergic neurons and target tissues. It is assumed that dysregulation of the peripheral 5HT-homeostasis, which causes elevated blood 5HT concentrations, could inhibit development of serotonergic neurons and lead to anatomical/functional alterations of the brain. In this study we have investigated the physiological consequences of perinatal treatment with the immediate 5HT precursor, 5-hydroxytriptophan (5HTP) in young rats. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Rats were treated with 25 mg/kg 5HTP from gestational day 13 until postnatal day 21. The number of born and survived pups in each litter, body mass increase over time, level of anxiety produced by separation of pups from their mother, and blood 5HT concentrations were determined in the experimental group of rats and compared with values obtained in the saline-treated control group. RESULTS: Although a similar number of pups were born to each litter in both groups, 5HTP-treated pups, in comparison with saline-treated pups, had significantly lower body mass at PND1, significantly lower survival rate, significantly higher blood 5HT concentrations, and returned to their dam significantly faster in the separation anxiety test. They gained weight at slower rate than the control rats and maintained significantly lower body mass. CONCLUSION: Temporary increase in peripheral 5HT concentrations during the critical phase of brain development has caused physiological disturbances in pups. Possible permanent changes in the central 5HT compartment are also indicated and will be explored in further studies.

serotonin; rat; survival; body mass; anxiety

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