Biology of the Neonate · 2009 · 29 citations · 0 references
Life SciencesNeurosciencePhysiologyDevelopmental NeurobiologyDevelopmental NeuroscienceNeurochemistryDevelopmental NeuroendocrinologyFetal PhysiologyMaternal-fetal PhysiologyPerinatal NutritionPregnancy PhysiologySerotonergic SignalingFetal Brain MaturationNeonatal Brain MetabolismSerotonergic MechanismsSerotonin BiosynthesisSerotonin SynthesisSerotonin TurnoverTryptophan HydroxylationTryptophan Metabolism
The fetal brain serotonin metabolism has been studied in two types of gestationally malnourished rats: protein-calorie and after ligation of one branch of the uterine artery. The results showed an elevation of L-tryptophan and serotonin content and an enhancement of tryptophan-5-hydroxylase activity in the malnourished fetal brain, continuing up to day 10 of postnatal life. The possible implications of these early changes of the serotoninergic system in brain differentiation and a lasting change in tryptophan-5-hydroxylase kinetics are proposed for further study.