Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Long-term tryptophan administration enhances cognitive performance and increases 5HT metabolism in the hippocampus of female rats

  • Published:
Amino Acids Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Summary.

It has been shown in various studies that increase in serotonergic neurotransmission is associated with increased memory consolidation whereas low brain 5HT impairs memory performance. In the first phase of our study we found that tryptophan (TRP) administration for 6 weeks increased plasma TRP and whole brain TRP, 5HT and 5HIAA levels. Many brain regions are involved in the learning process but particularly the hippocampus is known to have key role in learning and memory.

The present study was therefore designed to investigate the effects of TRP loading particularly on hippocampal 5HT metabolism and cognitive performance in rats. TRP-treated rats demonstrated spatial enhancement as evidenced by a significant decrease in time to find the hidden food reward in radial arm maze test (RAM). The important finding of the present study was the greater increase in the 5HT metabolism in hippocampus than in any other brain region of the TRP-treated rats. This increased 5HT metabolism in the hippocampus emphasizes the involvement of this region in memory process.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • MC Buhot (1997) ArticleTitleSerotonin receptors in cognitive behavior Curr Opin Neurobiol 7 243–254 Occurrence Handle9142756 Occurrence Handle1:CAS:528:DyaK2sXjsVOrtbg%3D Occurrence Handle10.1016/S0959-4388(97)80013-X

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • MC Buhot G Malleret L Segu (1999) ArticleTitleSerotonin receptors and cognitive behavior – an update Drugs 2 426–437 Occurrence Handle1:CAS:528:DyaK1MXjs1Skuro%3D

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • MC Buhot S Martin L Segu (2000) ArticleTitleRole of serotonin in memory impairment Ann Med 32 210–221 Occurrence Handle10821328 Occurrence Handle1:CAS:528:DC%2BD3cXms1Ohu7w%3D

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • WB Essman (1974) ArticleTitleBrain 5HT and memory consolidation Adv Biochem Pharmacol 11 265–274 Occurrence Handle1:CAS:528:DyaE2cXltlegsr8%3D

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • S Feurte K Gerozissis A Regnault FM Paul (2001) ArticleTitlePlasma Trp/LNAA ratio increases during chronic ingestion of an alpha-lactalbumin diet in rats Nutr Neurosci 4 413–418 Occurrence Handle11842917 Occurrence Handle1:CAS:528:DC%2BD38XhslCgsw%3D%3D

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • DJ Haleem H Naz T Parveen S Haider SP Ahmed NH Khan (2002) ArticleTitleSerotonin and serotonin 1-A receptors in the failure of ethanol treated rats to adapt to a repeated stress schedule J Stud Alcohol 63 389–396 Occurrence Handle12160096

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • CJ Harmer Z Bhagwagar PJ Cowen GM Goodwin (2002) ArticleTitleAcute administration of citalopram facilitates memory consolidation in healthy volunteers Psychopharmacology (Berl) 163 106–110 Occurrence Handle1:CAS:528:DC%2BD38XosVGrur4%3D Occurrence Handle10.1007/s00213-002-1151-x

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • PJ Harrison (2002) ArticleTitleThe neuropathology of primary mood disorder Brain 125 1428–1449 Occurrence Handle12076995 Occurrence Handle10.1093/brain/awf149

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • JH Hughes P Gallagher AH Young (2002) ArticleTitleEffects of acute tryptophan depletion on cognitive function in euthymic bipolar patients Eur Neuropsychopharmacol 12 123–128 Occurrence Handle11872328 Occurrence Handle1:CAS:528:DC%2BD38XhsFWgsL0%3D Occurrence Handle10.1016/S0924-977X(01)00145-6

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • S Khaliq S Haider SP Ahmed T Perveen DJ Haleem (2006) ArticleTitleRelationship of brain tryptophan and serotonin in improving cognitive performance in rats Pak J Pharm Sci 19 11–15 Occurrence Handle16632446 Occurrence Handle1:CAS:528:DC%2BD28XktlehurY%3D

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • I Lee RP Kesner (2003) ArticleTitleTime-dependent relationship between the dorsal hippocampus and the prefrontal cortex in spatial memory J Neurosci 23 1517–1523 Occurrence Handle12598640 Occurrence Handle1:CAS:528:DC%2BD3sXit1anurs%3D

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • CK Lieben K Van Oorsouw NE Deutz A Blokland (2004) ArticleTitleAcute tryptophan depletion induced by a gelatin based mixture impairs object memory but not affective behavior and spatial learning in the rats Behav Brain Res 151 53–64 Occurrence Handle15084421 Occurrence Handle1:CAS:528:DC%2BD2cXjtFaltrc%3D Occurrence Handle10.1016/j.bbr.2003.08.002

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • CR Markus B Olivier EH de Haan (2002) ArticleTitleWhey protein rich in alpha-lactalbumin increases the ratio of plasma tryptophan to the sum of the other large neutral amino acids and improves cognitive performance in stress-vulnerable subjects Am J Clin Nutr 75 1051–1056 Occurrence Handle12036812 Occurrence Handle1:CAS:528:DC%2BD38XktlSmtr0%3D

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • RH McAllister-Williams IN Ferrier AH Young (1998) ArticleTitleMood and neuropsychological function in depression: the role of corticosteroids and serotonin Psychol Med 28 573–584 Occurrence Handle9626714 Occurrence Handle1:STN:280:DyaK1c3ptVSitA%3D%3D Occurrence Handle10.1017/S0033291798006680

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • WJ McEntee TH Crook (1991) ArticleTitleSerotonin, memory and the aging brain Psychopharmacology (Berl) 103 143–149 Occurrence Handle1:CAS:528:DyaK3MXhtFGit7o%3D Occurrence Handle10.1007/BF02244194

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • A Meneses (1999) ArticleTitle5HT system and cognition Neurosci Biobehav Rev 23 1111–1125 Occurrence Handle10643820 Occurrence Handle1:CAS:528:DyaK1MXnslGlsL8%3D Occurrence Handle10.1016/S0149-7634(99)00067-6

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • L Nadel M Moscovitch (2001) ArticleTitleThe hippocampal complex and long term memory revisited Trends Cogn Sci 5 228–230 Occurrence Handle11390282 Occurrence Handle10.1016/S1364-6613(00)01664-8

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • S Neese L La Grange E Trujillo D Romero (2004) ArticleTitleThe effect of ethanol and silymarin treatment during gestation on spatial working memory BMC Comp Altern Med 4 4–10 Occurrence Handle10.1186/1472-6882-4-4

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • PJ Porter BS Lunn JT O Brien (2003) ArticleTitleEffect of acute tryptophan depletion on cognitive function in Alzheimer disease and in the healthy elderly Psychol Med 33 41–49 Occurrence Handle12537035 Occurrence Handle1:STN:280:DC%2BD3s%2FivFCltg%3D%3D Occurrence Handle10.1017/S0033291702006906

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • G Richter-Levin M Segal (1996) ArticleTitleSerotonin, aging and cognitive functions of the hippocampus Rev Neurosci 7 103–113 Occurrence Handle8819205 Occurrence Handle1:STN:280:BymH3MnivF0%3D

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • WJ Riedel S Sobezek JA Schmitt (2003) ArticleTitleTryptophan modulation and cognition Adv Exp Med Biol 527 207–213 Occurrence Handle15206734 Occurrence Handle1:CAS:528:DC%2BD2cXktlOjsbs%3D

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • R Stancampiano S Cocco F Melis C Cugusi L Sarais F Fadda (1997) ArticleTitleThe decrease of serotonergic release induced by a tryptophan-free amino acid diet does not affect spatial and passive avoidance learning Brain Res 762 269–274 Occurrence Handle9262189 Occurrence Handle1:CAS:528:DyaK2sXkt1Sisro%3D Occurrence Handle10.1016/S0006-8993(97)00506-4

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Biochemistry, Neurochemistry and Biochemical Neuropharmacology Research Unit, University of Karachi, Karachi, Pakistan

    S. Haider, S. Khaliq, S. P. Ahmed & D. J. Haleem

Authors
  1. S. Haider
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. S. Khaliq
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. S. P. Ahmed
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. D. J. Haleem
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Haider, S., Khaliq, S., Ahmed, S. et al. Long-term tryptophan administration enhances cognitive performance and increases 5HT metabolism in the hippocampus of female rats. Amino Acids 31, 421–425 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00726-005-0310-x

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00726-005-0310-x

Search

Navigation