Abstract
In awake, unrestrained, intact rats, reserpine, para-chlorophenylalanine, 6-fluorotryptophan, and para-chloroamphetamine depleted whole brain serotonin and produced a substantial and sustained hyperventilation as evidenced by a 5-9 torr drop in Pa(CO2). Administration of 5-hydroxytryptophan to rats treated with para-chlorophenylalanine partially alleviated the hyperventilation. No change in ventilation was observed after alpha-methyltyrosine. 5,7-Dihydroxytryptamine produced contradictory results. On the basis of these pharmacological studies, we propose that some serotonin-mediated nerve transmissions might function under physiological conditions to inhibit the central nervous system output which controls normal breathing.
Original language | English (US) |
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Pages (from-to) | 689-693 |
Number of pages | 5 |
Journal | Journal of Clinical Investigation |
Volume | 64 |
Issue number | 2 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - 1979 |
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Medicine(all)