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Changes in blood and plasma serotonergic measurements in rats--effect of nicotine and/or exposure to different
1Department of Physiology, Hamamatsu University School of Medicine, Shizuoka-ken, Japan.
Abstract:
Effects of two kinds of stress on plasma and whole blood serotonergic measurements were studied in nicotine administered rats. Plasma tryptophan levels increased after footshock stress. Stress given to nicotine administered rats resulted in decrease in plasma tryptophan levels. Although there was no change in 5-HT levels in whole blood, footshock increased plasma levels of 5-HT, and restraint stress decreased its levels. Plasma and whole blood 5-HIAA levels increased in rats given stress and nicotine. 5-HIAA/5-HT ratio (the turnover rate of 5-HT) in plasma and blood increased only in rats given stress and nicotine. These results indicate that nicotine administration may decrease stress induced increase in plasma 5-HT levels by increasing its degradation.
