ABSTRACT
The authors studied the concentrations of tryptophan, serotonin and 5-hydroxyindole acetic acid in both blood plasma and cerebrospinal fluid of patients with suppurative meningitides and meningoencephalitides of varying severity. The data obtained point to the intensification of serotonin metabolism in the central nervous system at the height of the disease development which may lead to alterations in the functional activity of serotoninergic neurones.
Subject(s)
Central Nervous System/metabolism , Meningitis/metabolism , Meningoencephalitis/metabolism , Serotonin/metabolism , Adolescent , Adult , Female , Humans , Hydroxyindoleacetic Acid/analysis , Male , Meningitis, Meningococcal/metabolism , Meningitis, Pneumococcal/metabolism , Serotonin/analysis , Suppuration , Tryptophan/analysisABSTRACT
A study of the functional state of the sympathico-adrenal system by determining the diurnal urine excretion of catecholamines and DOPA was conducted in 29 patients with meningoencephalitis of a meningococcal etiology. These studies demonstrated a significant activation of its adrenal link and a tendency to an increase of activity in the sympathical link with a drop of the reserve possibilities. These changes were most distinctly expressed in cases with prevalent localization of the pathological process in the deep brain structures. These facts made it possible to conclude that there is a lesion in the link of a control of the sympathico-adrenal system. These data were confirmed by results of a study in 18 patients with meningococcal infections by physiological loadings with insulin and adrenalin and a study of the catecholamines and DOPA in the urine portions, which exert specific influence on the state of activity of the sympathico-adrenal system through the hypothalamus and reticular formation.
Subject(s)
Adrenal Glands/physiopathology , Catecholamines/urine , Dihydroxyphenylalanine/urine , Meningococcal Infections/physiopathology , Sepsis/physiopathology , Sympathetic Nervous System/physiopathology , Adolescent , Adult , Dopamine/urine , Epinephrine/urine , Female , Humans , Insulin , Male , Meningitis, Meningococcal/physiopathology , Meningitis, Meningococcal/urine , Meningococcal Infections/urine , Middle Aged , Norepinephrine/urine , Sepsis/urineSubject(s)
Adrenal Medulla/pathology , Meningococcal Infections/pathology , Adolescent , Adult , Aged , Female , Humans , Male , Middle AgedABSTRACT
Content of adrenaline and DOPA was distinctly decreased in adrenal glands of 32 persons who died of meningitis, as compared with 7 persons, death of which was caused by trauma. The lowest content of catecholamines was found in cases of development of meningoencephalitis and also after massive hemorrhages into the adrenal glands. The alterations observed were due to impairment of the synthesis, secretion and probably, storage of biogenic amines in the adrenal medulla.
