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Differences between males and females in rates of serotonin synthesis in human brain.

Posted on 05/09/2010
2 comments
Views: 131

Rates of serotonin synthesis were measured in the human brain using positron emission tomography. The sensitivity of the method is indicated by the fact that measurements are possible even after a substantial lowering of synthesis induced by acute tryptophan depletion. Unlike serotonin levels in human brain, which vary greatly in different brain areas, rates of synthesis of the indolamine are rather uniform throughout the brain.

The mean rate of synthesis in normal males was found to be 52% higher than in normal females; this marked difference may be a factor relevant to the lower incidence of major unipolar depression in males.

About the Authors

Nishizawa S, Benkelfat C, Young SN, Leyton M, Mzengeza S, de Montigny C, Blier P, Diksic M. (1997) Differences between males and females in rates of serotonin synthesis in human brain. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 1997 May 13;94(10):5308-13. Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, H3A 2B4 Canada.

Comments

Dr_Abram_Hoffer

Posted on 05/16/2010 05:44 pm

This new work with NAD Therapy is very exciting and I think is right on target. It is indeed an energy-metabolic-deficiency (EMD) because in the absence of this coenzyme cycle almost all the reactions in the body run down... I congratulate Theo Verwey and his colleagues for this remarkable advance in using this concept and in using a simple test, the ratio of pyruvate to lactate as a diagnostic measure, to indicate the dose, duration of treatment etc.

NAD_Blood_Tests

Posted on 05/09/2010 06:23 am

It is known that dietary tryptophan can be converted to nicotinamide nucleotides in the body. Both the level of tryptophan and the energy content of the diet have been shown to influence the efficiency of conversion. The rate at which tryptophan is converted to nicotinamide nucleotides in the body may be expected to be influenced by the activities of the enzymes concerned with the tryptophan-NAD pathway.