Abstract
Summary
Wistar rats were placed on diets supplemented with 7% phenylalanine, 4.5% phenylpyruvic acid, 3% ortho-hydroxyphenylacetic acid or 4% phenylacetic acid. Analysis of brain samples for serotonin after several days on these diets showed that phenylalanine feeding effectively lowered brain serotonin, phenylpyruvic acid feeding did so less effectively, and phenylacetic acid and o-hydroxyphenylacetic acid feeding caused no significant change. The implications of these findings in relation to the treatment of phenylketonuria are discussed.
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