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Science 29 September 1972:
Vol. 177. no. 4055, pp. 1209 - 1211
DOI: 10.1126/science.177.4055.1209
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Articles

Narcotic Drugs: Effects on the Serotonin Biosynthetic Systems of the Brain

Suzanne Knapp 1 and Arnold J. Mandell 1

1 Department of Psychiatry, University of California at San Diego, La Jolla 92037

The effects of short- and long-term administration of morphine on the activity of two measurable forms of rat brain tryptophan hydroxylase were studied. Morphine administration produced an immediate decrease and a longterm increase in the nerve ending (particulate) enzyme activity but did not change the cell body (soluble) enzyme activity. Cocaine administration demnonstrated a short-term decrcease in measurable nerve eniding enzyme activity that was due to the inhibition of the high affinity uptake (the Michaelis constant, Km is 10-5 molar) of trytophan, the serotonin precursor. Cocaine did not aflect the low affinity uptake Km = 10-5 molar) of tryptophan. Both the uptake of the precursor and the enizymiie activity appeared to be drug-sensitive regullatory processes in the biosynthlesis of serotonin.


THIS ARTICLE HAS BEEN CITED BY OTHER ARTICLES:
Trazodone--Oral Cocaine Interactions.
M. C. Rowbotham, R. T. Jones, N. L. Benowitz, and P. Jacob III (1984)
Arch Gen Psychiatry 41, 895-899
   Abstract »    PDF »
Short- and Long-Term Lithium Administration: Effects on the Brain's Serotonergic Biosynthetic Systems.
S. Knapp and A. J. Mandell (1973)
Science 180, 645-647
   Abstract »    PDF »
Narcotic Tolerance and Dependence and Serotonin Turnover.
R. J. Hitzemann, I. K. Ho, H. H. Loh, D. L. Cheney, and E. Costa (1972)
Science 178, 645-647
   PDF »


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Science. ISSN 0036-8075 (print), 1095-9203 (online)