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. 1974 Aug;10(2):340–346. doi: 10.1128/iai.10.2.340-346.1974

Quantitative Analysis of Serotonin Biosynthesis in Endotoxemia 1

Katherine M Morris a,2, Robert J Moon a
PMCID: PMC415002  PMID: 4605001

Abstract

Endotoxin-poisoned mice converted significantly greater quantities of tryptophan to serotonin than did normal mice. The percentage increase, approximately 10 to 15%, was the same whether mice were given only trace quantities of tryptophan or tryptophan load (20 mg of l-tryptophan). The increased serotonin synthesis was accompanied by a decreased flow of tryptophan into the kynurenine pathway. These results indicate that excess serotonin synthesis occurs not only at dose levels of tryptophan which are toxic for endotoxin-poisoned mice but also at physiological levels of tryptophan. This latter observation may have some importance in the overall pathophysiology of endotoxin shock.

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Selected References

These references are in PubMed. This may not be the complete list of references from this article.

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