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Ceasrine AM, Devlin BA, Bolton JL, Green LA, Jo YC, Huynh C, Patrick B, Washington K, Sanchez CL, Joo F, Campos-Salazar AB, Lockshin ER, Kuhn C, Murphy SK, Simmons LA, Bilbo SD. Maternal diet disrupts the placenta-brain axis in a sex-specific manner. Nat Metab 2022; 4:1732-1745. [PMID: 36443520 PMCID: PMC10507630 DOI: 10.1038/s42255-022-00693-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/12/2022] [Accepted: 10/17/2022] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
High maternal weight is associated with detrimental outcomes in offspring, including increased susceptibility to neurological disorders such as anxiety, depression and communicative disorders. Despite widespread acknowledgement of sex biases in the development of these disorders, few studies have investigated potential sex-biased mechanisms underlying disorder susceptibility. Here, we show that a maternal high-fat diet causes endotoxin accumulation in fetal tissue, and subsequent perinatal inflammation contributes to sex-specific behavioural outcomes in offspring. In male offspring exposed to a maternal high-fat diet, increased macrophage Toll-like receptor 4 signalling results in excess microglial phagocytosis of serotonin (5-HT) neurons in the developing dorsal raphe nucleus, decreasing 5-HT bioavailability in the fetal and adult brains. Bulk sequencing from a large cohort of matched first-trimester human samples reveals sex-specific transcriptome-wide changes in placental and brain tissue in response to maternal triglyceride accumulation (a proxy for dietary fat content). Further, fetal brain 5-HT levels decrease as placental triglycerides increase in male mice and male human samples. These findings uncover a microglia-dependent mechanism through which maternal diet can impact offspring susceptibility for neuropsychiatric disorder development in a sex-specific manner.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexis M Ceasrine
- Department of Psychology and Neuroscience, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Benjamin A Devlin
- Department of Psychology and Neuroscience, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Jessica L Bolton
- Neuroscience Institute, Georgia State University, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Lauren A Green
- Department of Psychology and Neuroscience, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Young Chan Jo
- Department of Psychology and Neuroscience, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Carolyn Huynh
- Department of Psychology and Neuroscience, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Bailey Patrick
- Department of Psychology and Neuroscience, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Kamryn Washington
- Department of Psychology and Neuroscience, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Cristina L Sanchez
- Department of Pharmacology and Cancer Biology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Faith Joo
- Department of Psychology and Neuroscience, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA
| | | | - Elana R Lockshin
- Department of Neurobiology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Cynthia Kuhn
- Department of Pharmacology and Cancer Biology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Susan K Murphy
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Leigh Ann Simmons
- Department of Human Ecology, Perinatal Origins of Disparities Center, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA, USA
| | - Staci D Bilbo
- Department of Psychology and Neuroscience, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA.
- Department of Neurobiology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC, USA.
- Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA.
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2
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Zhang X, Yoshihara K, Miyata N, Hata T, Altaisaikhan A, Takakura S, Asano Y, Izuno S, Sudo N. Dietary tryptophan, tyrosine, and phenylalanine depletion induce reduced food intake and behavioral alterations in mice. Physiol Behav 2022; 244:113653. [PMID: 34800493 DOI: 10.1016/j.physbeh.2021.113653] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/03/2021] [Revised: 11/10/2021] [Accepted: 11/15/2021] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
Important precursors of monoaminergic neurotransmitters, dietary tryptophan (TRP), tyrosine, and phenylalanine (all referred to as TTP), play crucial roles in a wide range of behavioral and emotional functions. In the current study, we investigated whether diets devoid of TTP or diets deficient in TRP alone can affect body weight, behavioral characteristics, and gut microbiota, by comparing mice fed on these amino acids-depleted diets to mice fed on diets containing regular levels of amino acids. Both dietary TTP- and TRP-deprived animals showed a reduction in food intake and body weight. In behavioral analyses, the mice fed TTP-deprived diets were more active than mice fed diets containing regular levels of amino acids. The TRP-deprived group exhibited a reduction in serum TRP levels, concomitant with a decrease in serotonin and 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid levels in some regions of the brain. The TTP-deprived group showed a reduction in TTP levels in the serum, concomitant with decreases in both phenylalanine and tyrosine levels in the hippocampus, as well as serotonin, norepinephrine, and dopamine concentrations in some regions of the brain. Regarding the effects of TRP or TTP deprivation on gut microbial ecology, the relative abundance of genus Roseburia was significantly reduced in the TTP-deprived group than in the dietary restriction control group. Interestingly, TTP was found even in the feces of mice fed TTP- and TRP-deficient diets, suggesting that TTP is produced by microbial or enzymatic digestion of the host-derived proteins. However, microbe generated TTP did not compensate for the systemic TTP deficiency induced by the lack of dietary TTP intake. Collectively, these results indicate that chronic dietary TTP deprivation induces decreased monoamines and their metabolites in a brain region-specific manner. The altered activities of the monoaminergic systems may contribute to increased locomotor activity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xueting Zhang
- Department of Psychosomatic Medicine, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kyushu University, Fukuoka, Japan
| | - Kazufumi Yoshihara
- Department of Psychosomatic Medicine, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kyushu University, Fukuoka, Japan
| | - Noriyuki Miyata
- Department of Psychosomatic Medicine, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kyushu University, Fukuoka, Japan
| | - Tomokazu Hata
- Department of Psychosomatic Medicine, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kyushu University, Fukuoka, Japan
| | - Altanzul Altaisaikhan
- Department of Psychosomatic Medicine, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kyushu University, Fukuoka, Japan
| | - Shu Takakura
- Department of Psychosomatic Medicine, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kyushu University, Fukuoka, Japan
| | - Yasunari Asano
- Department of Psychosomatic Medicine, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kyushu University, Fukuoka, Japan
| | - Satoshi Izuno
- Department of Psychosomatic Medicine, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kyushu University, Fukuoka, Japan
| | - Nobuyuki Sudo
- Department of Psychosomatic Medicine, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kyushu University, Fukuoka, Japan.
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Wang L, Fan X, Han J, Cai M, Wang X, Wang Y, Shang J. Gut-Derived Serotonin Contributes to the Progression of Non-Alcoholic Steatohepatitis via the Liver HTR2A/PPARγ2 Pathway. Front Pharmacol 2020; 11:553. [PMID: 32477107 PMCID: PMC7240039 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2020.00553] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/05/2020] [Accepted: 04/14/2020] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
The precipitous increase in occurrence of non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) is a serious threat to public health worldwide. The pathogenesis of NASH has not yet been thoroughly studied. We aimed to elucidate the interplay between serotonin (5-hydroxytryptamine, 5-HT) and NASH. The serum 5-HT levels in patients with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and a rat fed with high fat-sucrose diet (HFSD) were evaluated using liquid chromatography-hybrid quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry (LC-QTOF MS)/MS. The peripheral Tph1 inhibitor, LP533401, and a tryptophan (TRP)-free diet were administered to rats with NASH, induced by HFSD. BRL-3A cells were treated with 1 mM free fatty acids (FFAs) and/or 50 μM 5-HT, and then small interfering RNA (siRNA) targeting the 5-HT2A receptor (HTR2A) and the PPARγ pharmaceutical agonist, pioglitazone, were applied. We found a marked correlation between 5-HT and NASH. The absence of 5-HT, through the pharmaceutical blockade of Tph1 (LP533401) and dietary control (TRP-free diet), suppressed hepatic lipid load and the expression of inflammatory factors (Tnfα, Il6, and Mcp-1). In BRL-3A cells, 50 μM 5-HT induced lipid accumulation and upregulated the expression of lipogenesis-ralated genes (Fas, Cd36, and Plin2) and the inflammatory response. Specifically, HTR2A knockdown and evaluation of PPARγ agonist activity revealed that HTR2A promoted hepatic steatosis and inflammation by activating PPARγ2. These results suggested that duodenal 5-HT was a risk factor in the pathological progression of NASH. Correspondingly, it may represent an attractive therapeutic target for preventing the development of NASH via the regulation of the HTR2A/PPARγ2 signaling pathway.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lulu Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Natural Medicines, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, China.,Division of Clinical Pharmacy, Department of Pharmacy, Drum Tower Hospital Affiliated to Medical School of Nanjing University, Nanjing, China
| | - Xiangcheng Fan
- State Key Laboratory of Natural Medicines, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, China.,Jiangsu Key Laboratory of TCM Evaluation and Translational Research, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Jichun Han
- State Key Laboratory of Natural Medicines, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, China.,Jiangsu Key Laboratory of TCM Evaluation and Translational Research, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Minxuan Cai
- State Key Laboratory of Natural Medicines, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, China.,Jiangsu Key Laboratory of TCM Evaluation and Translational Research, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Xiaozhong Wang
- Department of Hepatology, Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital, Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, Urumqi, China
| | - Yan Wang
- Department of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu Fifth People's Hospital, Chengdu, China
| | - Jing Shang
- State Key Laboratory of Natural Medicines, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, China.,Jiangsu Key Laboratory of TCM Evaluation and Translational Research, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, China
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4
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Stewart RM, Wong JWY, Mahfouda S, Morandini HAE, Rao P, Runions KC, Zepf FD. Acute Tryptophan Depletion Moja-De: A Method to Study Central Nervous Serotonin Function in Children and Adolescents. Front Psychiatry 2020; 10:1007. [PMID: 32210845 PMCID: PMC7067742 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2019.01007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/15/2019] [Accepted: 12/20/2019] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Serotonin (5-HT) is widely implicated as a key neurotransmitter relevant to a range of psychiatric disorders and psychological processes. The role of central nervous 5-HT function underlying these processes can be examined through serotonergic challenge methodologies. Acute tryptophan depletion (ATD) is a key challenge method whereby a diminished dietary intake of tryptophan-the amino acid precursor to brain 5-HT synthesis-results in temporary diminished central nervous 5-HT synthesis. While this particular methodology has been used in adult populations, it was only recently that modifications were made to enable the use of ATD in child and adolescent populations. Additionally, the Moja-De modification of the ATD challenge methodology has demonstrated benefits over other ATD techniques used previously. The aim of this protocol paper is to describe the ATD Moja-De methodology in detail, its benefits, as well as studies that have been conducted to validate the procedure in child and adolescent samples. The ATD Moja-De protocol provides a potential methodology for investigating the role of central nervous 5-HT via manipulation of brain tryptophan availability in human psychopathology from a developmental viewpoint.
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Affiliation(s)
- Richard M. Stewart
- Centre & Discipline of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Psychosomatics and Psychotherapy, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, The University of Western Australia, Perth, WA, Australia
| | - Janice W. Y. Wong
- Centre & Discipline of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Psychosomatics and Psychotherapy, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, The University of Western Australia, Perth, WA, Australia
- Brain and Behaviour, Telethon Kids Institute, Perth, WA, Australia
- Specialised Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services, Department of Health, Perth, WA, Australia
| | - Simone Mahfouda
- Centre & Discipline of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Psychosomatics and Psychotherapy, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, The University of Western Australia, Perth, WA, Australia
- Brain and Behaviour, Telethon Kids Institute, Perth, WA, Australia
- School of Psychological Sciences, Faculty of Science, The University of Western Australia, Perth, WA, Australia
| | - Hugo A. E. Morandini
- Centre & Discipline of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Psychosomatics and Psychotherapy, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, The University of Western Australia, Perth, WA, Australia
| | - Pradeep Rao
- Centre & Discipline of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Psychosomatics and Psychotherapy, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, The University of Western Australia, Perth, WA, Australia
- Community Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services, Department of Health, Perth, WA, Australia
| | - Kevin C. Runions
- Centre & Discipline of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Psychosomatics and Psychotherapy, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, The University of Western Australia, Perth, WA, Australia
- Brain and Behaviour, Telethon Kids Institute, Perth, WA, Australia
- Community Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services, Department of Health, Perth, WA, Australia
| | - Florian D. Zepf
- Centre & Discipline of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Psychosomatics and Psychotherapy, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, The University of Western Australia, Perth, WA, Australia
- Brain and Behaviour, Telethon Kids Institute, Perth, WA, Australia
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, Jena University Hospital, Friedrich Schiller University, Jena, Germany
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5
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Königschulte W, Civai C, Hildebrand P, Gaber TJ, Fink GR, Zepf FD. Effects of serotonin depletion and dopamine depletion on bimodal divided attention. World J Biol Psychiatry 2020; 21:183-194. [PMID: 30295116 DOI: 10.1080/15622975.2018.1532110] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/28/2022]
Abstract
Objectives: This study aimed to explore the effects of acute phenylalanine tyrosine depletion (APTD) and acute tryptophan depletion (ATD) on bimodal divided attention. A balanced amino acid mixture (BAL) served as control condition.Methods: Fifty-three healthy adults (final analyzed sample was N = 49, age: M = 23.8 years) were randomly assigned to APTD, ATD or BAL in a double-blind, between-subject approach. Divided attention was assessed after 4 h. Blood samples were taken before and 6 h after challenge intake.Results: Amino acid concentrations following challenge intake significantly decreased (all P ≤ 0.01). There was a significant difference in the mean reaction time (RT) towards auditory stimuli, but not towards visual stimuli between the groups. Post-hoc comparison of mean RTs (auditory stimuli) showed a significant difference between ATD (RT = 604.0 ms, SD = 56.9 ms) and APTD (RT = 556.4 ms, SD = 54.2 ms; P = 0.037), but no RT difference between ATD and BAL or APTD and BAL (RT = 573.6 ms, SD = 45.7 ms).Conclusions: The results indicate a possible dissociation between the effects of a diminished brain 5-HT and DA synthesis on the performance in a bimodal divided attention task. The difference was exclusively observed within the RT towards auditory signals.
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Affiliation(s)
- W Königschulte
- Clinic for Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Psychosomatics and Psychotherapy, RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, Germany.,JARA Translational Brain Medicine, Aachen & Jülich, Germany
| | - C Civai
- School of Psychology, University of Kent, Canterbury, UK
| | - P Hildebrand
- Clinic for Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Psychosomatics and Psychotherapy, RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, Germany.,JARA Translational Brain Medicine, Aachen & Jülich, Germany
| | - T J Gaber
- Clinic for Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Psychosomatics and Psychotherapy, RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, Germany.,JARA Translational Brain Medicine, Aachen & Jülich, Germany
| | - G R Fink
- Cognitive Neuroscience, Institute of Neuroscience and Medicine (INM-3), Research Centre Jülich, Jülich, Germany.,Department of Neurology, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany
| | - F D Zepf
- Clinic for Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Psychosomatics and Psychotherapy, RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, Germany.,JARA Translational Brain Medicine, Aachen & Jülich, Germany.,Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, Jena University Hospital, Friedrich Schiller University Jena, Germany.,Centre and Discipline of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Psychosomatics and Psychotherapy, School of Medicine, Division of Psychiatry and Clinical Neurosciences & Division of Paediatrics and Child Health, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, The University of Western Australia, Perth, Australia.,Telethon Kids Institute, Perth, Australia
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6
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Gasparini CF, Smith RA, Griffiths LR. Genetic and biochemical changes of the serotonergic system in migraine pathobiology. J Headache Pain 2017; 18:20. [PMID: 28194570 PMCID: PMC5307402 DOI: 10.1186/s10194-016-0711-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/11/2016] [Accepted: 12/09/2016] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Migraine is a brain disorder characterized by a piercing headache which affects one side of the head, located mainly at the temples and in the area around the eye. Migraine imparts substantial suffering to the family in addition to the sufferer, particularly as it affects three times more women than men and is most prevalent between the ages of 25 and 45, the years of child rearing. Migraine typically occurs in individuals with a genetic predisposition and is aggravated by specific environmental triggers. Attempts to study the biochemistry of migraine began as early as the 1960s and were primarily directed at serotonin metabolism after an increase of 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid (5-HIAA), the main metabolite of serotonin was observed in urine of migraineurs. Genetic and biochemical studies have primarily focused on the neurotransmitter serotonin, considering receptor binding, transport and synthesis of serotonin and have investigated serotonergic mediators including enzymes, receptors as well as intermediary metabolites. These studies have been mainly assayed in blood, CSF and urine as the most accessible fluids. More recently PET imaging technology integrated with a metabolomics and a systems biology platform are being applied to study serotonergic biology. The general trend observed is that migraine patients have alterations of neurotransmitter metabolism detected in biological fluids with different biochemistry from controls, however the interpretation of the biological significance of these peripheral changes is unresolved. In this review we present the biology of the serotonergic system and metabolic routes for serotonin and discuss results of biochemical studies with regard to alterations in serotonin in brain, cerebrospinal fluid, saliva, platelets, plasma and urine of migraine patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Claudia Francesca Gasparini
- Menzies Health Institute Queensland, Griffith University Gold Coast, Parklands Drive, Southport, QLD, 4222, Australia
| | - Robert Anthony Smith
- Genomics Research Centre, Institute of Health and Biomedical Innovation, School of Biomedical Sciences, Queensland University of Technology, Musk Ave, Kelvin Grove, QLD, 4059, Australia
| | - Lyn Robyn Griffiths
- Genomics Research Centre, Institute of Health and Biomedical Innovation, School of Biomedical Sciences, Queensland University of Technology, Musk Ave, Kelvin Grove, QLD, 4059, Australia.
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Bolton JL, Wiley MG, Ryan B, Truong S, Strait M, Baker DC, Yang NY, Ilkayeva O, O'Connell TM, Wroth SW, Sánchez CL, Swamy G, Newgard C, Kuhn C, Bilbo SD, Simmons LA. Perinatal western-type diet and associated gestational weight gain alter postpartum maternal mood. Brain Behav 2017; 7:e00828. [PMID: 29075574 PMCID: PMC5651398 DOI: 10.1002/brb3.828] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/05/2017] [Revised: 07/07/2017] [Accepted: 08/06/2017] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION The role of perinatal diet in postpartum maternal mood disorders, including depression and anxiety, remains unclear. We investigated whether perinatal consumption of a Western-type diet (high in fat and branched-chain amino acids [BCAA]) and associated gestational weight gain (GWG) cause serotonin dysregulation in the central nervous system (CNS), resulting in postpartum depression and anxiety (PPD/A). METHODS Mouse dams were fed one of four diets (high-fat/high BCAA, low-fat/high BCAA, high-fat, and low-fat) prior to mating and throughout gestation and lactation. Postpartum behavioral assessments were conducted, and plasma and brain tissues assayed. To evaluate potential clinical utility, we conducted preliminary human studies using data from an extant sample of 17 primiparous women with high GWG, comparing across self-reported postpartum mood symptoms using the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) for percent GWG and plasma amino acid levels. RESULTS Mouse dams fed the high-fat/high BCAA diet gained more weight per kcal consumed, and BCAA-supplemented dams lost weight more slowly postpartum. Dams on BCAA-supplemented diets exhibited increased PPD/A-like behavior, decreased dopaminergic function, and decreased plasma tyrosine and histidine levels when assessed on postnatal day (P)8. Preliminary human data showed that GWG accounted for 29% of the variance in EPDS scores. Histidine was also lower in women with higher EPDS scores. CONCLUSIONS These findings highlight the role of perinatal diet and excess GWG in the development of postpartum mood disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jessica L Bolton
- Department of Psychology and Neuroscience Duke University Durham NC USA
| | - Melanie G Wiley
- Department of Psychology and Neuroscience Duke University Durham NC USA
| | - Bailey Ryan
- Department of Psychology and Neuroscience Duke University Durham NC USA
| | - Samantha Truong
- Department of Psychology and Neuroscience Duke University Durham NC USA
| | | | | | | | - Olga Ilkayeva
- Duke Molecular Physiology Institute Duke University School of Medicine Durham NC USA
| | - Thomas M O'Connell
- Duke Molecular Physiology Institute Duke University School of Medicine Durham NC USA
| | | | - Cristina L Sánchez
- Department of Pharmacology and Cancer Biology Duke University School of Medicine Durham NC USA
| | - Geeta Swamy
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology Duke University School of Medicine Durham NC USA
| | - Christopher Newgard
- Duke Molecular Physiology Institute Duke University School of Medicine Durham NC USA.,Department of Pharmacology and Cancer Biology Duke University School of Medicine Durham NC USA
| | - Cynthia Kuhn
- Department of Pharmacology and Cancer Biology Duke University School of Medicine Durham NC USA
| | - Staci D Bilbo
- Department of Psychology and Neuroscience Duke University Durham NC USA
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8
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Sánchez CL, Van Swearingen AED, Arrant AE, Biskup CS, Kuhn CM, Zepf FD. Simplified dietary acute tryptophan depletion: effects of a novel amino acid mixture on the neurochemistry of C57BL/6J mice. Food Nutr Res 2015; 59:27424. [PMID: 26278978 PMCID: PMC4538305 DOI: 10.3402/fnr.v59.27424] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/28/2015] [Revised: 06/24/2015] [Accepted: 06/24/2015] [Indexed: 01/10/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Diet and nutrition can impact on the biological processes underpinning neuropsychiatric disorders. Amino acid (AA) mixtures lacking a specific neurotransmitter precursor can change the levels of brain serotonin (5-HT) or dopamine (DA) in the central nervous system. The availability of these substances within the brain is determined by the blood-brain barrier (BBB) that restricts the access of peripheral AA into the brain. AA mixtures lacking tryptophan (TRP) compete with endogenous TRP for uptake into the brain across the BBB, which in turn leads to a decrease in central nervous 5-HT synthesis. OBJECTIVE The present study compared the effects of a simplified acute tryptophan depletion (SATD) mixture in mice on blood and brain serotonergic and dopaminergic metabolites to those of a commonly used acute tryptophan depletion mixture (ATD Moja-De) and its TRP-balanced control (BAL). DESIGN The SATD formula is composed of only three large neutral AAs: phenylalanine (PHE), leucine (LEU), and isoleucine (ILE). BAL, ATD Moja-De, or SATD formulas were delivered to adult male C57BL/6J mice by gavage. TRP, monoamines, and their metabolites were quantified in blood and brain regions (hippocampus, frontal cortex, amygdala, caudate putamen, and nucleus accumbens). RESULTS Both ATD Moja-De and SATD significantly decreased levels of serum and brain TRP, as well as brain 5-HIAA and 5-HT compared with BAL. SATD reduced HVA levels in caudate but did not alter total DA levels or DOPAC. SATD decreased TRP and serotonergic metabolites comparably to ATD Moja-De administration. CONCLUSION A simplified and more palatable combination of AAs can manipulate serotonergic function and might be useful to reveal underlying monoamine-related mechanisms contributing to different neuropsychiatric disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cristina L Sánchez
- Clinic for Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Psychosomatics and Psychotherapy, JARA Brain, RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, Germany.,Department of Pharmacology and Cancer Biology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC, USA
| | | | - Andrew E Arrant
- Department of Pharmacology and Cancer Biology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Caroline S Biskup
- Clinic for Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Psychosomatics and Psychotherapy, JARA Brain, RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, Germany
| | - Cynthia M Kuhn
- Department of Pharmacology and Cancer Biology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Florian D Zepf
- Clinic for Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Psychosomatics and Psychotherapy, JARA Brain, RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, Germany.,Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, School of Paediatrics and Child Health & School of Psychiatry and Clinical Neurosciences, Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Health Sciences, The University of Western Australia, Perth, WA, Australia.,Specialised Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAHMS), Department of Health, Perth, WA, Australia;
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9
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Sanchez CL, Biskup CS, Herpertz S, Gaber TJ, Kuhn CM, Hood SH, Zepf FD. The Role of Serotonin (5-HT) in Behavioral Control: Findings from Animal Research and Clinical Implications. Int J Neuropsychopharmacol 2015; 18:pyv050. [PMID: 25991656 PMCID: PMC4648158 DOI: 10.1093/ijnp/pyv050] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/28/2015] [Accepted: 04/29/2015] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The neurotransmitters serotonin and dopamine both have a critical role in the underlying neurobiology of different behaviors. With focus on the interplay between dopamine and serotonin, it has been proposed that dopamine biases behavior towards habitual responding, and with serotonin offsetting this phenomenon and directing the balance toward more flexible, goal-directed responding. The present focus paper stands in close relationship to the publication by Worbe et al. (2015), which deals with the effects of acute tryptophan depletion, a neurodietary physiological method to decrease central nervous serotonin synthesis in humans for a short period of time, on the balance between hypothetical goal-directed and habitual systems. In that research, acute tryptophan depletion challenge administration and a following short-term reduction in central nervous serotonin synthesis were associated with a shift of behavioral performance towards habitual responding, providing further evidence that central nervous serotonin function modulates the balance between goal-directed and stimulus-response habitual systems of behavioral control. In the present focus paper, we discuss the findings by Worbe and colleagues in light of animal experiments as well as clinical implications and discuss potential future avenues for related research.
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Affiliation(s)
- C L Sanchez
- Clinic for Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Psychosomatics and Psychotherapy, RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, Germany (Drs Sanchez, Biskup, and Mr Gaber); Jülich Aachen Research Alliance, JARA Translational Brain Medicine, Aachen & Jülich, Germany (Drs Sanchez, Biskup, and Mr Gaber); Department of Pharmacology and Cancer Biology, Duke University, Durham, NC (Drs Sanchez and Kuhn); Department of Psychiatry, Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics, University of Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany (Dr Herpertz); School of Psychiatry and Clinical Neurosciences (Dr Hood), and Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, School of Psychiatry and Clinical Neurosciences & School of Paediatrics and Child Health (Dr ZEPF), Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Health Sciences, The University of Western Australia, Perth, WA, Australia; Specialised Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services, Department of Health in Western Australia, Perth, WA, Australia (Dr ZEPF)
| | - C S Biskup
- Clinic for Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Psychosomatics and Psychotherapy, RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, Germany (Drs Sanchez, Biskup, and Mr Gaber); Jülich Aachen Research Alliance, JARA Translational Brain Medicine, Aachen & Jülich, Germany (Drs Sanchez, Biskup, and Mr Gaber); Department of Pharmacology and Cancer Biology, Duke University, Durham, NC (Drs Sanchez and Kuhn); Department of Psychiatry, Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics, University of Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany (Dr Herpertz); School of Psychiatry and Clinical Neurosciences (Dr Hood), and Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, School of Psychiatry and Clinical Neurosciences & School of Paediatrics and Child Health (Dr ZEPF), Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Health Sciences, The University of Western Australia, Perth, WA, Australia; Specialised Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services, Department of Health in Western Australia, Perth, WA, Australia (Dr ZEPF)
| | - S Herpertz
- Clinic for Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Psychosomatics and Psychotherapy, RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, Germany (Drs Sanchez, Biskup, and Mr Gaber); Jülich Aachen Research Alliance, JARA Translational Brain Medicine, Aachen & Jülich, Germany (Drs Sanchez, Biskup, and Mr Gaber); Department of Pharmacology and Cancer Biology, Duke University, Durham, NC (Drs Sanchez and Kuhn); Department of Psychiatry, Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics, University of Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany (Dr Herpertz); School of Psychiatry and Clinical Neurosciences (Dr Hood), and Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, School of Psychiatry and Clinical Neurosciences & School of Paediatrics and Child Health (Dr ZEPF), Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Health Sciences, The University of Western Australia, Perth, WA, Australia; Specialised Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services, Department of Health in Western Australia, Perth, WA, Australia (Dr ZEPF)
| | - T J Gaber
- Clinic for Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Psychosomatics and Psychotherapy, RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, Germany (Drs Sanchez, Biskup, and Mr Gaber); Jülich Aachen Research Alliance, JARA Translational Brain Medicine, Aachen & Jülich, Germany (Drs Sanchez, Biskup, and Mr Gaber); Department of Pharmacology and Cancer Biology, Duke University, Durham, NC (Drs Sanchez and Kuhn); Department of Psychiatry, Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics, University of Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany (Dr Herpertz); School of Psychiatry and Clinical Neurosciences (Dr Hood), and Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, School of Psychiatry and Clinical Neurosciences & School of Paediatrics and Child Health (Dr ZEPF), Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Health Sciences, The University of Western Australia, Perth, WA, Australia; Specialised Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services, Department of Health in Western Australia, Perth, WA, Australia (Dr ZEPF)
| | - C M Kuhn
- Clinic for Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Psychosomatics and Psychotherapy, RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, Germany (Drs Sanchez, Biskup, and Mr Gaber); Jülich Aachen Research Alliance, JARA Translational Brain Medicine, Aachen & Jülich, Germany (Drs Sanchez, Biskup, and Mr Gaber); Department of Pharmacology and Cancer Biology, Duke University, Durham, NC (Drs Sanchez and Kuhn); Department of Psychiatry, Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics, University of Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany (Dr Herpertz); School of Psychiatry and Clinical Neurosciences (Dr Hood), and Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, School of Psychiatry and Clinical Neurosciences & School of Paediatrics and Child Health (Dr ZEPF), Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Health Sciences, The University of Western Australia, Perth, WA, Australia; Specialised Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services, Department of Health in Western Australia, Perth, WA, Australia (Dr ZEPF)
| | - S H Hood
- Clinic for Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Psychosomatics and Psychotherapy, RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, Germany (Drs Sanchez, Biskup, and Mr Gaber); Jülich Aachen Research Alliance, JARA Translational Brain Medicine, Aachen & Jülich, Germany (Drs Sanchez, Biskup, and Mr Gaber); Department of Pharmacology and Cancer Biology, Duke University, Durham, NC (Drs Sanchez and Kuhn); Department of Psychiatry, Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics, University of Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany (Dr Herpertz); School of Psychiatry and Clinical Neurosciences (Dr Hood), and Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, School of Psychiatry and Clinical Neurosciences & School of Paediatrics and Child Health (Dr ZEPF), Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Health Sciences, The University of Western Australia, Perth, WA, Australia; Specialised Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services, Department of Health in Western Australia, Perth, WA, Australia (Dr ZEPF)
| | - F D Zepf
- Clinic for Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Psychosomatics and Psychotherapy, RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, Germany (Drs Sanchez, Biskup, and Mr Gaber); Jülich Aachen Research Alliance, JARA Translational Brain Medicine, Aachen & Jülich, Germany (Drs Sanchez, Biskup, and Mr Gaber); Department of Pharmacology and Cancer Biology, Duke University, Durham, NC (Drs Sanchez and Kuhn); Department of Psychiatry, Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics, University of Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany (Dr Herpertz); School of Psychiatry and Clinical Neurosciences (Dr Hood), and Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, School of Psychiatry and Clinical Neurosciences & School of Paediatrics and Child Health (Dr ZEPF), Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Health Sciences, The University of Western Australia, Perth, WA, Australia; Specialised Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services, Department of Health in Western Australia, Perth, WA, Australia (Dr ZEPF)
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10
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Hildebrand P, Königschulte W, Gaber TJ, Bubenzer-Busch S, Helmbold K, Biskup CS, Langen KJ, Fink GR, Zepf FD. Effects of dietary tryptophan and phenylalanine-tyrosine depletion on phasic alertness in healthy adults - A pilot study. Food Nutr Res 2015; 59:26407. [PMID: 25933613 PMCID: PMC4417080 DOI: 10.3402/fnr.v59.26407] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/23/2014] [Revised: 03/22/2015] [Accepted: 03/24/2015] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Background The synthesis of the neurotransmitters serotonin (5-HT) and dopamine (DA) in the brain can be directly altered by dietary manipulation of their relevant precursor amino acids (AA). There is evidence that altered serotonergic and dopaminergic neurotransmission are both associated with impaired attentional control. Specifically, phasic alertness is one specific aspect of attention that has been linked to changes in 5-HT and DA availability in different neurocircuitries related to attentional processes. The present study investigated the impact of short-term reductions in central nervous system 5-HT and DA synthesis, which was achieved by dietary depletion of the relevant precursor AA, on phasic alertness in healthy adult volunteers; body weight–adapted dietary tryptophan and phenylalanine–tyrosine depletion (PTD) techniques were used. Methods The study employed a double-blind between-subject design. Fifty healthy male and female subjects were allocated to three groups in a randomized and counterbalanced manner and received three different dietary challenge conditions: acute tryptophan depletion (ATD, for the depletion of 5-HT; N=16), PTD (for the depletion of DA; N=17), and a balanced AA load (BAL; N=17), which served as a control condition. Three hours after challenge intake (ATD/PTD/BAL), phasic alertness was assessed using a standardized test battery for attentional performance (TAP). Blood samples for AA level analyses were obtained at baseline and 360 min after the challenge intake. Results Overall, there were no significant differences in phasic alertness for the different challenge conditions. Regarding PTD administration, a positive correlation between the reaction times and the DA-related depletion magnitude was detected via the lower plasma tyrosine levels and the slow reaction times of the first run of the task. In contrast, higher tryptophan concentrations were associated with slower reaction times in the fourth run of the task in the same challenge group. Conclusion The present study is the first to demonstrate preliminary data that support an association between decreased central nervous system DA synthesis, which was achieved by dietary depletion strategies, and slower reaction times in specific runs of a task designed to assess phasic alertness in healthy adult volunteers; these findings are consistent with previous evidence that links phasic alertness with dopaminergic neurotransmission. A lack of significant differences between the three groups could be due to compensatory mechanisms and the limited sample size, as well as the dietary challenge procedures administered to healthy participants and the strict exclusion criteria used. The potential underlying neurochemical processes related to phasic alertness should be the subject of further investigations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Patricia Hildebrand
- Clinic for Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Psychosomatics and Psychotherapy, JARA Brain, Medical Faculty, RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, Germany
| | - Werner Königschulte
- Clinic for Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Psychosomatics and Psychotherapy, JARA Brain, Medical Faculty, RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, Germany
| | - Tilman Jakob Gaber
- Clinic for Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Psychosomatics and Psychotherapy, JARA Brain, Medical Faculty, RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, Germany
| | - Sarah Bubenzer-Busch
- Clinic for Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Psychosomatics and Psychotherapy, JARA Brain, Medical Faculty, RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, Germany
| | - Katrin Helmbold
- Clinic for Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Psychosomatics and Psychotherapy, JARA Brain, Medical Faculty, RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, Germany
| | - Caroline Sarah Biskup
- Clinic for Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Psychosomatics and Psychotherapy, JARA Brain, Medical Faculty, RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, Germany
| | - Karl-Josef Langen
- Institute of Neuroscience and Medicine (INM-3, -4, -5), Research Centre Jülich, Jülich, Germany.,Department of Nuclear Medicine, RWTH Aachen University Hospital, Aachen, Germany
| | | | - Florian Daniel Zepf
- Clinic for Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Psychosomatics and Psychotherapy, JARA Brain, Medical Faculty, RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, Germany.,Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, School of Psychiatry and Clinical Neurosciences & School of Paediatrics and Child Health, Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Health Sciences, The University of Western Australia, Perth, Australia.,Specialised Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAHMS), Department of Health in Western Australia, Perth, WA, Australia;
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11
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Badawy AAB, Dougherty DM. Standardization of formulations for the acute amino acid depletion and loading tests. J Psychopharmacol 2015; 29:363-71. [PMID: 25586395 PMCID: PMC5516789 DOI: 10.1177/0269881114565141] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
The acute tryptophan depletion and loading and the acute tyrosine plus phenylalanine depletion tests are powerful tools for studying the roles of cerebral monoamines in behaviour and symptoms related to various disorders. The tests use either amino acid mixtures or proteins. Current amino acid mixtures lack specificity in humans, but not in rodents, because of the faster disposal of branched-chain amino acids (BCAAs) by the latter. The high content of BCAA (30-60%) is responsible for the poor specificity in humans and we recommend, in a 50g dose, a control formulation with a lowered BCAA content (18%) as a common control for the above tests. With protein-based formulations, α-lactalbumin is specific for acute tryptophan loading, whereas gelatine is only partially effective for acute tryptophan depletion. We recommend the use of the whey protein fraction glycomacropeptide as an alternative protein. Its BCAA content is ideal for specificity and the absence of tryptophan, tyrosine and phenylalanine render it suitable as a template for seven formulations (separate and combined depletion or loading and a truly balanced control). We invite the research community to participate in standardization of the depletion and loading methodologies by using our recommended amino acid formulation and developing those based on glycomacropeptide.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Donald M Dougherty
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Texas Health Sciences Center at San Antonio, 7703 Floyd Curl Drive, Mail Code 7793, San Antonio, Texas, 78229, USA
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12
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Biskup CS, Gaber T, Helmbold K, Bubenzer-Busch S, Zepf FD. Amino acid challenge and depletion techniques in human functional neuroimaging studies: an overview. Amino Acids 2015; 47:651-83. [DOI: 10.1007/s00726-015-1919-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/10/2014] [Accepted: 01/09/2015] [Indexed: 01/16/2023]
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13
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Zepf FD, Sánchez CL, Biskup CS, Kötting WF, Bubenzer S, Helmbold K, Eisert A, Gaber TJ, Landgraf M, Dahmen B, Poustka F, Wöckel L, Stadler C, Grabemann M, Mette C, Heinrich V, Uekermann J, Abdel-Hamid M, Kis B, Zimmermann M, Wiltfang J, Kuhn CM. Acute tryptophan depletion - converging evidence for decreasing central nervous serotonin synthesis in rodents and humans. Acta Psychiatr Scand 2014; 129:157-9. [PMID: 24237607 DOI: 10.1111/acps.12215] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- F D Zepf
- Clinic for Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Psychosomatics and Psychotherapy, RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, Germany; JARA Translational Brain Medicine, Aachen, Jülich, Germany; Institute for Neuroscience and Medicine, Jülich Research Centre, Jülich, Germany.
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14
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von Polier GG, Biskup CS, Kötting WF, Bubenzer S, Helmbold K, Eisert A, Gaber TJ, Zepf FD. Change in electrodermal activity after acute tryptophan depletion associated with aggression in young people with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). J Neural Transm (Vienna) 2013; 121:451-5. [DOI: 10.1007/s00702-013-1119-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/17/2013] [Accepted: 11/08/2013] [Indexed: 10/26/2022]
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