Elevation of serotonin level in serum and platelets of rats with glycerol-induced acute renal failure

ABSTRACT

The effect of glycerol-induced acute renal failure [ARF] on serotonin [STN] was studied in rats. The levels of STN in plasma and platelets [PT] were measured by high performance liquid chromatography [HPLC]. The concentration of STN in platelets [4483 +/- 875 ng/10[9] PT] and plasma [83.50 +/- 9.75 ng/ml plasma] were higher than that of healthy controls [2746 +/- 766 ng/10[9] PT, p < 0.01; 13.67 +/- 3.00 ng/ml, P < 0.01, respectively]. The observed alteration is believed to be due to decreased renal blood flow and low glomerular filtration rate [GFR] caused by vasoconstriction in the presence of high levels of STN as well as renal insufficiency. In addition, tryptophan, [Try] which acts as the precursor of STN was significantly lower in the plasma of rats with ARF [6.97 +/- 2.03 micro g/ml] compared to control rats [12.87 +/- 2.54 micro g/ml, P<0.01]