Abstract
Forty-eight hours after injecting rats with carbon tetrachloride there were large increases of plasma non-esterifed fatty acid and free tryptophan concentrations. Total plasma tryptophan was not significantly altered. Brain, liver and muscle tryptophan concentrations increased significantly with percentage changes in the order: brain > liver > muscle > kidney. The increased brain tryptophan was associated with a small but significant increase of 5-hydroxytrptamine and a larger increase of its metabolite 5-hydroxyindolylacetic acid. Tyrosine concentrations increased significantly in plasma, brain, liver, muscle and kidney with percentage changes in the same order as those of tryptophan. Food intake was decreased and this correlated significantly with brain tryptophan and 5-hydroxyindolylacetic acid concentrations. Control rats kept for 48 hr on restricted intake did not show the above brain changes though plasma non-esterified fatty acid concentration was increased as in the drug treated rats. Results are discussed in relation to previous findings in acute liver failure and to the possible roles of brain tryptophan and 5-hydroxytryptamine in liver failure and appetite control.
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