ABSTRACT
The relationship between omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) and violent-aggressive behavior has been payed attention since 1980s. Their correlation was explored by many epidemiological investigations, and the effect of PUFAs on prevention or reduction of violent-aggressive behavior in different groups were also affirmed by some intervention studies. This article summarized the previous studies and reviewed the history of epidemiological or intervention studies on PUFAs and its relationship with violent-aggressive behavior. It also presented the possible influencing factors in these studies and possible mechanisms.
Subject(s)
Animals , Humans , Aggression , Dietary Fats, Unsaturated/pharmacology , Dietary Supplements , Docosahexaenoic Acids/pharmacology , Eicosapentaenoic Acid/pharmacology , Fatty Acids, Omega-3/pharmacology , Fatty Acids, Omega-6/pharmacology , Fishes , Folic Acid/metabolism , Hydroxyindoleacetic Acid/metabolism , Norepinephrine/metabolism , Risk Factors , Serotonin/metabolism , Violence/prevention & controlABSTRACT
Concentrations of serotonin (5-HT) and its metabolite 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid (5-HIAA) were studied in discrete areas of brain and in large intestine of Swiss mice following transplantation of Sarcoma 180 (S 180) ascites tumor. Significant increase in 5-HT levels (2 to 3.5-fold over controls, P < 0.05) was observed in raphe region of the brain throughout the period of tumor growth. Concomitant increase, although of lesser magnitude, was recorded in raphe 5-HIAA content. 5-HT content of hypothalamus, mid brain and caudate putamen, on the other hand, remained relatively unaltered except for an increase at the advanced stage of the disease. While mid brain and hypothalamic 5-HIAA were elevated at the late stage, 5-HIAA values of caudate putamen were normal or slightly reduced during the progression of tumor. Both 5-HT and 5-HIAA levels of the large intestine showed an early decline followed by a modest increase at the late stages. Brain and plasma tryptophan levels were also elevated significantly (P < 0.05) in the tumor hosts. The results suggest a close relationship between increase in serotonin concentrations in the brain, particularly in raphe region, and the progression of S-180 tumor in mice.
Subject(s)
Animals , Brain/metabolism , Cell Division/physiology , Hydroxyindoleacetic Acid/metabolism , Intestine, Large/metabolism , Male , Mice , Sarcoma 180/metabolism , Serotonin/metabolismABSTRACT
Albino rats were exposed to isolation, haemorrhagic, and psychic stress. The myocardial norepinephrine (NE), epinephrine (E), dopamine (DA), 5-hydroxytryptamine (5HT) and 5-hydroxy indole acetic acid (5HIAA) were quantitatively estimated at varying periods of time. The results indicate that 5HT, E, and DA are the common denominators in various types of stress and show similar qualitative changes in all the stresses studied whereas norepinephrine shows both quantitative and qualitative differences in the various stresses studied indicating thereby a differential modulatory mechanisms operating for the release of noradrenaline.
Subject(s)
Animals , Biogenic Amines/metabolism , Dopamine/metabolism , Epinephrine/metabolism , Hemorrhage/metabolism , Hydroxyindoleacetic Acid/metabolism , Male , Myocardium/metabolism , Norepinephrine/metabolism , Rats , Rats, Inbred Strains , Serotonin/metabolism , Social Isolation , Stress, Physiological/metabolism , Stress, Psychological/metabolismABSTRACT
This study involved pediatric cases with Acute fulminant hepatocellular failure (AFHF) put on conventional therapy at the Hospital for children, Madras. In these cases, the biogenic amine status was studied at the time of admission, during therapy and at the time of recovery in responders. The CSF 5-HT, 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid (5-HIAA) and Homovanillic acid (HVA), blood 5-HT and 5-HIAA, and urinary 5-HIAA followed almost a similar pattern of changes during the course of AFHF: increase at precoma, further increase at coma, return towards control at recovery. In striking contrast, urinary 3-methoxy-4-hydroxyphenyl glycol (MHPG) and 3-methoxy-4-hydroxymandelic acid (VMA) registered a decrease at precoma, a further fall at coma and a value closer to control at recovery. The results suggest the usefulness of assay of these parameters in monitoring cases of AFHF during therapy and in offering prognosis for these cases.
Subject(s)
Acute Disease , Biogenic Amines/blood , Child , Hepatic Encephalopathy/metabolism , Homovanillic Acid/metabolism , Humans , Hydroxyindoleacetic Acid/metabolism , Liver Diseases/metabolism , Serotonin/metabolismABSTRACT
Alteration in the steady state level of brain biogenic amines produced by methanol differ considerably in rats when compared to the effects produced by ethanol. When ethanol and methanol were administered simultaneously in identical concentration, the effects produced by methanol were much more pronounced in the presence of ethanol. This could be attributed to the delay in the metabolism of methanol as ethanol competes with methanol for alcohol dehydrogenase enzyme activity. Hence, it is presumed that the effects produced by methanol seem to be primarily due to the direct action of methanol itself and not due to metabolic end products of methanol. It is also inferred that if methanol per se is going to produce any permanent damage in the central nervous system due to abnormal neurotransmitter behaviour, they cannot be prevented by treatment with ethanol.