Does dietary tryptophan play a role in the control of convulsive activity?
Cabral-Filho, J.E.; Castro, R.M.; Teodósio, N.R.; Barreira, A.M.; Alécio-de-Oliveira, E.J.
Brazilian Journal of Medical and Biological Research 20(3-4): 457-459
1987
ISSN/ISBN: 0100-879X PMID: 3451794 Document Number: 304714
The convulsive response to pentylenetetrazol was investigated in rats receiving different dietary tryptophan inputs. In the first experiment the animals were fed either a corn or a corn-supplemented diet. In the second one they received either a control diet supplemented with tryptophan, a low-protein/high-carbohydrate diet, or a low-protein/high-carbohydrate tryptophan-supplemented diet. The control groups for both experiments were fed a diet containing 22% milk protein. The corn diet facilitated seizures; the low-protein/high-carbohydrate/tryptophan diet prevented seizures. These results suggest that the brain serotonin levels determined by dietary tryptophan, or tryptophan by itself, could play a role in the convulsive response.