Alimentäre Beeinflussung der enterochromaffinen Zellen und des 5-Hydroxytryptamin-Gehaltes von Gehirn und Darm

The 5-HT content of brain and intestine is markedly reduced in rabbits, guinea-pigs, rats and mice fed a tryptophan-deficient diet. In severe deficiencies also histochemical reactions of the enterochromaffin cells are diminished. In contrast to the reduction of 5-HT by reserpine, the decrease of the 5-HT content in tryptophan-deficient animals develops much more slowly; no regional differences in the gastro-intestinal tract and no histochemically detectable influence on the catecholamine content of the medulla of adrenal gland can be observed.