RESUMEN
Catabolism of tryptophan and tyrosine in relation to the isoprenoid pathway was studied in neurological and psychiatric disorders. The concentration of trytophan, quinolinic acid, kynurenic acid, serotonin and 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid was found to be higher in the plasma of patients with all these disorders; while that of tyrosine, dopamine, epinephrine and norepinephrine was lower. There was increase in free fatty acids and decrease in albumin (factors modulating tryptophan transport) in the plasma of these patients. Concentration of digoxin, a modulator of amino acid transport, and the activity of HMG CoA reductase, which synthesizes digoxin, were higher in these patients; while RBC membrane Na+-K+ ATPase activity showed a decrease. Concentration of plasma ubiquinone (part of which is synthesised from tyrosine) and magnesium was also lower in these patients. No morphine could be detected in the plasma of these patients except in MS. On the other hand, strychnine and nicotine were detectable. These results indicate hypercatabolism of tryptophan and hypocatabolism of tyrosine in these disorders, which could be a consequence of the modulating effect of hypothalamic digoxin on amino acid transport.
Asunto(s)
Adulto , Monoaminas Biogénicas/sangre , Encefalopatías/sangre , Neoplasias Encefálicas/sangre , Digoxina/análisis , Epilepsia Generalizada/sangre , Eritrocitos/química , Ácidos Grasos no Esterificados/sangre , Femenino , Glioma/sangre , Glicinérgicos/sangre , Humanos , Hidroximetilglutaril-CoA Reductasas/sangre , Ácido Quinurénico/sangre , Magnesio/análisis , Masculino , Angina Microvascular/sangre , Persona de Mediana Edad , Morfina/sangre , Narcóticos/sangre , Nicotina/sangre , Agonistas Nicotínicos/sangre , Enfermedad de Parkinson/sangre , Ácido Quinolínico/sangre , Esquizofrenia/sangre , Albúmina Sérica , ATPasa Intercambiadora de Sodio-Potasio/análisis , Estricnina/sangre , Triptófano/sangre , Tirosina/sangre , Ubiquinona/análisisRESUMEN
Postictal values of plasma prolactin levels were measured in 15 children with generalized seizures, 8 children with pseudoseizures and 6 control subjects. In patients with generalized seizure, the mean plasma prolactin level was 28.6 +/- 2.3 ng/ml, whereas in patients with pseudoseizures and in controls, its mean values were 10.4 +/- 3.8 ng/ml and 9.8 +/- 2.6 ng/ml, respectively. Thus, prolactin levels were significantly (p < 0.001) elevated following generalized seizures but were almost normal following pseudoseizures. Plasma prolactin levels may, therefore, be helpful in differentiating between generalized seizures and pseudoseizures.