Biomaterial Database

Behavioural and biochemical effects of tryptophan, tyrosine and phenylalanine in mice. 1982

C J Gibson, and S M Deikel, and S N Young, and Y M Binik

Behaviour was observed in mice given L-tryptophan, L-tyrosine or L-phenylalanine and then placed either in an open field or in water in a narrow cylinder. Animals placed in water (swim test) soon assume a characteristic immobile posture. Most antidepressants, including pharmacologically atypical ones, decrease immobility in the swim test while many decrease or do not affect activity in the open field test. Tryptophan increased immobility in the swim test, but did not affect open field activity and thus did not exhibit the normal profile of activity for an antidepressant. Tyrosine decreased immobility in the swim test and markedly increased activity in the open field test, an action similar to the psychostimulants amphetamine and caffeine. Phenylalanine decreased immobility in the swim test, but did not affect open field activity. Thus, its behavioural effects are similar to those of an antidepressant. As expected, tryptophan increased brain tryptophan and serotonin in a dose-related fashion. Tyrosine did not alter dopamine or noradrenaline levels, while phenylalanine lowered dopamine, noradrenaline and serotonin. These biochemical data do not fully explain the behavioural results.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D008297	Male		Males
D008815	Mice, Inbred Strains	Genetically identical individuals developed from brother and sister matings which have been carried out for twenty or more generations, or by parent x offspring matings carried out with certain restrictions. All animals within an inbred strain trace back to a common ancestor in the twentieth generation.	Inbred Mouse Strains,Inbred Strain of Mice,Inbred Strain of Mouse,Inbred Strains of Mice,Mouse, Inbred Strain,Inbred Mouse Strain,Mouse Inbred Strain,Mouse Inbred Strains,Mouse Strain, Inbred,Mouse Strains, Inbred,Strain, Inbred Mouse,Strains, Inbred Mouse
D009043	Motor Activity	Body movements of a human or an animal as a behavioral phenomenon.	Activities, Motor,Activity, Motor,Motor Activities
D010649	Phenylalanine	An essential aromatic amino acid that is a precursor of MELANIN; DOPAMINE; noradrenalin (NOREPINEPHRINE), and THYROXINE.	Endorphenyl,L-Phenylalanine,Phenylalanine, L-Isomer,L-Isomer Phenylalanine,Phenylalanine, L Isomer
D001923	Brain Chemistry	Changes in the amounts of various chemicals (neurotransmitters, receptors, enzymes, and other metabolites) specific to the area of the central nervous system contained within the head. These are monitored over time, during sensory stimulation, or under different disease states.	Chemistry, Brain,Brain Chemistries,Chemistries, Brain
D000596	Amino Acids	Organic compounds that generally contain an amino (-NH2) and a carboxyl (-COOH) group. Twenty alpha-amino acids are the subunits which are polymerized to form proteins.	Amino Acid,Acid, Amino,Acids, Amino
D000818	Animals	Unicellular or multicellular, heterotrophic organisms, that have sensation and the power of voluntary movement. Under the older five kingdom paradigm, Animalia was one of the kingdoms. Under the modern three domain model, Animalia represents one of the many groups in the domain EUKARYOTA.	Animal,Metazoa,Animalia
D001679	Biogenic Amines	A group of naturally occurring amines derived by enzymatic decarboxylation of the natural amino acids. Many have powerful physiological effects (e.g., histamine, serotonin, epinephrine, tyramine). Those derived from aromatic amino acids, and also their synthetic analogs (e.g., amphetamine), are of use in pharmacology.	Amines, Biogenic,Biogenic Amine,Amine, Biogenic
D013550	Swimming	An activity in which the body is propelled through water by specific movement of the arms and/or the legs. Swimming as propulsion through water by the movement of limbs, tail, or fins of animals is often studied as a form of PHYSICAL EXERTION or endurance.
D014364	Tryptophan	An essential amino acid that is necessary for normal growth in infants and for NITROGEN balance in adults. It is a precursor of INDOLE ALKALOIDS in plants. It is a precursor of SEROTONIN (hence its use as an antidepressant and sleep aid). It can be a precursor to NIACIN, albeit inefficiently, in mammals.	Ardeydorm,Ardeytropin,L-Tryptophan,L-Tryptophan-ratiopharm,Levotryptophan,Lyphan,Naturruhe,Optimax,PMS-Tryptophan,Trofan,Tryptacin,Tryptan,Tryptophan Metabolism Alterations,ratio-Tryptophan,L Tryptophan,L Tryptophan ratiopharm,PMS Tryptophan,ratio Tryptophan