Abstract
The ingestion of a diet containing all amino-acids but tryptophan causes a marked depletion of brain serotonin, tryptophan and 5-hydroxy-indoleacetic acid both in rats and rabbits. This effect persists for more than 24 hours. At the time of maximal serotonin depletion, a marked increase in male to male mounting behavior both in rats and rabbits was observed. This response was prevented by the administration of 5-hydroxytryptophan, the direct serotonin precursor. This finding supports the hypothesis that brain serotonin plays on inhibitory role in controlling male sexual behavior. Tryptophan-free diets may provide a non-pharmacological tool for studying the role of serotonin in different types of behavior.
Published Version
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