Tryptophan-deficient diet increases the neurochemical and behavioral response to amphetamine

CARTA, MANOLO;Fadda F;STANCAMPIANO, ROBERTO

2006-01-01

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Abstract

The present study examined the effects of a tryptophan-deficient diet on behavioral and neurochemical response to amphetamine. A tryptophan-deficient diet (14 days) decreased striatal serotonin and 5-hydroxyindolacetic acid content in rats. Under the latter conditions, amphetamine increased dopamine efflux in striatum and nucleus accumbens and produced a greater increase in motor activity when compared to controls. These results indicate how response to psychostimulants might be altered in the presence of a tryptophan-deficient diet.