Endogenous alkaloids in the brain of rats loaded with tyrosine/tryptophan & in the serum of patients of neurodegenerative & psychiatric disorders.

ABSTRACT

Since binding sites for morphine, nicotine and strychnine exist in the brain, it is possible that they may have some role in neuronal function. The presence/variation in the levels of these alkaloids in the brain of rats fed tryptophan and tyrosine, and in the serum of patients with some neurodegenerative and psychiatric disorders were studied. Brain of rats loaded with tyrosine (500 mg/kg b wt X 14 days) showed increased amounts of morphine, while that from animals loaded with tryptophan (in the same dose) showed presence of strychnine and increased amounts of nicotine. Strychnine is being reported in mammalian brain for the first time. Serum of patients with epilepsy, Parkinson's disease (PD) and manic depressive psychosis (MDP) was also examined for the presence of these alkaloids. Serum of control subjects did not show the presence of any of these alkaloids, while that of all 3 patients groups contained strychnine. Morphine was present only in the serum of patients of MDP. Nicotine was present in trace amounts in the serum of all these patients. Presence of these alkaloids in the serum of patients of neurodegenerative and psychiatric disorders is being reported for the first time, to the best of our knowledge.