ISSN:
1471-4159
Source:
Blackwell Publishing Journal Backfiles 1879-2005
Topics:
Medicine
Notes:
Abstract: The distribution of the serotonin metabolites 5-hydroxytryptophol (5-HTOL) and 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid (5-HIAA) was determined in the rat by a sensitive and specific gas chromatography-mass spectrometric assay. 5-HTOL occurred in all tissues assayed, with highest concentrations in small intestine (mean ± S.E.M. = 193 ± 13 mg/g), lung (78.8 ± 13.2 mg/g), and liver (64.1 ± 4.9 mg/g). Brain 5-HTOL concentrations (9.80 ± 0.36 mg/g) were only 1% of brain 5-HIAA levels. Conjugated 5-HTOL accounted for a significant fraction of the total 5-HTOL concentrations in all tissues and varied from 20% in heart to 70% in kidney. In plasma and urine, 5-HTOL occurred almost completely in conjugated form. Except for liver, 5-HIAA concentrations were substantially greater than 5-HTOL in all tissues, plasma, and urine. Highest 5-HIAA concentrations occurred in brain (787 ± 28 mg/g), lung (744 ± 52 mg/g), and small intestine (424 ± 35 mg/g). 5-HTOL concentrations in plasma and urine were about 25% of the respective 5-HIAA levels. It is concluded that significant biotransformation of serotonin to 5-HTOL in the rat occurs in the intestine, liver, and lung while in brain formation of 5-HTOL represents a minor pathway of serotonin metabolism.
Type of Medium:
Electronic Resource
URL:
http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1471-4159.1980.tb09945.x