Rapid effects of environmental disturbance on rat plasma unesterified fatty acid and tryptophan concentrations and their prevention by antilopolytic drugs.

1 Changes of plasma unesterified fatty acid (UFA) and tryptophan concentration in group-housed rats following removal of their cage-mates and the effects of antilipolytic drugs on these changes were investigated. 2 Removal of group-housed 24 h fasted rats but not fed rats from cages resulted in increased plasma UFA concentration in the remaining rats which was associated with significant increases of the proportion of free tryptophan but significant falls of total tryptophan concentration. These rapid changes were not associated with brain tryptophan changes. Plasma tyrosine concentration was unaffected. 3 The fall of plasma tryptophan did not appear to be due to passage into red cells as erythrocyte tryptophan concentration remained unchanged. 4 Plasma UFA concentrations correlated positively and significantly with corticosterone concentrations which were also increased following removal of cage-mates. 5 Plasma UFA increases and tryptophan changes in the fasting rats were both prevented by nicotinic acid or propranolol. Corticosterone concentration was increased by nicotinic acid but unaffected by propranolol. 6 The possible importance of these rapid changes of plasma tryptophan and of their prevention by antilipolytic drugs is discussed.