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The aim of the present study was to investigate the effects of physical exercise (running) on serotonin (5-hydroxytryptamine, 5-HT) synthesis and metabolism in midbrain on the one hand, and in striatum and hippocampus on the other hand. To address such a question, tryptophan (TRP) and 5-hydroxytryptophan (5-HTP) were measured in running rats pretreated with an inhibitor of aromatic amino acid decarboxylase, namely NSD 1015. In another series of experiments, the consequences of a TRP load on TRP, 5-HT and 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid (5-HIAA) levels were compared in resting and running rats. Although running triggered a 30% increase in TRP levels in the three brain regions examined, inhibition of 5-HT synthesis by NSD 1015 was found to promote increased (midbrain), unchanged (striatum) or decreased (hippocampus) 5-HTP accumulation in the running situation, respectively compared to that measured in the resting situation. Inasmuch as running-induced elevation in TRP was not associated with an increased 5-HTP accumulation in the striatum and the hippocampus, the consequences of running on regional TRP, 5-HT and 5-HIAA levels were analyzed in saline- and TRP-injected rats. Indeed, running, per se, was found to increase central TRP, 5-HT and 5-HIAA levels. On the other hand, a TRP load that promoted identical increases in central TRP levels in running and resting rats revealed that running, according to the region examined, differentially affected TRP utilization in the 5-HT synthesis pathway. Thus, in the midbrains of the resting and running rats, respective 210-250% increases in TRP led to identical 25% increases in 5-HT and 90% increases in 5-HIAA levels. Conversely, in hippocampus, TRP loads triggered marked increases in TRP levels that were similar in the controls and the runners, but the rise in 5-HIAA promoted by such a precursor load was found to be significantly minored in the runners, compared to the resting rats. Moreover, such a running-induced impairment in 5-HT synthesis and metabolism was even more observable in the striatum; thus, TRP loads which promoted identical increases in striatal TRP levels in the resting and the running rats respectively triggered a 50% and a 32% increase in 5-HT levels and a 76% and a 47% increase in 5-HIAA levels. The results presented herein indicate that under certain pharmacological conditions, TRP utilization into the 5-HT synthesis pathway is altered in serotonergic nerve terminals, but not in the cell bodies of the running rat. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fusaric acid (FA) administration to the rats promoted one hour later a large decrease in plasma total tryptophan (TRP), without affecting either plasma free TRP or lipolysis, as measured by plasma non esterified fatty acid concentration. The previous change was associated with hypoinsulinemia, hyperglycemia and increased plasma corticosterone level. Regression analysis revealed a significant correlation between brain TRP and the percentage of plasma TRP which was free ( i.e. unbound to albumin), both increased by FA injection. The increase in brain TRP promoted an increased brain serotonin synthesis, as measured by the enhanced brain and CSF 5-HIAA levels. Valine pretreatment, which blocks TRP entry into the brain, completely prevented FA-induced brain TRP and brain 5-HIAA increases. These results suggest that the increased brain serotonergic turnover following FA treatment was due to a peripheral action of the drug upon TRP disposition. The latter effect may be caused (i) by in vivo peripheral alterations in catecholaminergic metabolism and (ii) by FA chemical structure since in vitro experiments revealed that FA was able to displace TRP binding to albumin, thus increasing the plasma free TRP pool. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]