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Psychomotor, subjective and neuroendocrine effects of acute tryptophan depletion in the healthy volunteer

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  28 April 2020

P Danjou ,
M Hamon ,
L Lacomblez ,
D Warot ,
S Kecskemeti  and
AJ Puech
P Danjou
Affiliation:
Department of Clinical Pharmacology, Hôpital de la Salpêtrière, Division Ambroise-Paré, 47, bd de l'Hôpital, 75651Paris Cedex 13
M Hamon
Affiliation:
INSERM U 288, Faculté de Médecine Pitié-Salpêtrière, 91, bd de l'Hôpital, 75634Paris Cedex 13, France
L Lacomblez
Affiliation:
Department of Clinical Pharmacology, Hôpital de la Salpêtrière, Division Ambroise-Paré, 47, bd de l'Hôpital, 75651Paris Cedex 13
D Warot
Affiliation:
Department of Clinical Pharmacology, Hôpital de la Salpêtrière, Division Ambroise-Paré, 47, bd de l'Hôpital, 75651Paris Cedex 13
S Kecskemeti
Affiliation:
Department of Clinical Pharmacology, Hôpital de la Salpêtrière, Division Ambroise-Paré, 47, bd de l'Hôpital, 75651Paris Cedex 13
AJ Puech
Affiliation:
Department of Clinical Pharmacology, Hôpital de la Salpêtrière, Division Ambroise-Paré, 47, bd de l'Hôpital, 75651Paris Cedex 13
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Summary

The effects of acute tryptophan depletion were investigated in 20 healthy volunteers. Ten of them received a balanced amino acid solution and 10 a tryptophan-free solution. The fall in tryptophan levels induced by the oral administration of a mixture tryptophan-free of L-amino acids was - 77% for free tryptophan and - 81% for total tryptophan. Before treatment, there were intergroup differences affecting alertness parameters (critical flicker threshold, recognition reaction time), plasma levels of prolactin and baseline performance in the proofreading correction test. In the tryptophan-depleted group, the number of errors reported during the unpleasant sound signal was increased (+ 48%) after treatment, whereas the number of errors fell (— 15%) in the group receiving the tryptophan supplement. Conversely the levels of prolactin were correlated with those of serum tryptophan. Few subjective effects were reported.

Résumé

Résumé

Les effets d'une déplétion aiguë en tryptophane ont été étudiés chez 20 volontaires sains. Les 10 premiers ont reçu une solution d'aminoacides en proportion équilibrée, et les 10 derniers ont reçu une solution sans tryptophane. La chute des taux de tryptophane, induite par l'administration orale d'un mélange de L-aminoacides ne contenant pas de tryptophane était de - 77% pour le tryptophane libre et de - 81% pour le tryptophane total. Avant traitement, il existait des différences intergroupes, portant sur des paramètres de vigilance (seuil critique de fusion, temps de réaction de choix), les niveaux plasmatiques de prolactine, ainsi que sur le niveau de performance basal du test de correction typographique. Dans le groupe déplété en tryptophane, le nombre d'erreurs pendant l'audition du stimulus dysphorique a augmenté (+ 48%) après traitement alors qu'il a diminué (— 15%) dans le groupe supplémenté. Inversement, les taux de prolactine étaient corrélés à ceux du tryptophane sérique. Peu d'effets subjectifs ont été notés.

Keywords

tryptophanserotoninamino acidsprolactinmoodpsychomotor performancetryptophanesérotonineaminoacidesprolactinehumeurperformance psychomotrice
Type
Original article
Information
Psychiatry and Psychobiology , Volume 5 , Issue 1 , 1990 , pp. 31 - 38
Copyright
Copyright © European Psychiatric Association 1990

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