Turnover of 3H-5-hydroxytryptamine to 3H-5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid and the 3H-5-methoxyindoles in nondeprived and 24 hr food deprived rats.

Serotonin turnover in the lateral in hypothalamus (LH) was determined in nondeprived and 24 hr food deprived rats. The LH was infused with 0.5 muCi of 3H-5-hydroxytrptamine 1 hr prior to push-pull perfusion. The percentage of nCi/muCi of radioactivity was analyzed by thin layer chromatography and liquid scintillation spectrometry. There was significantly more 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid and 5-methoxytryptamine formed in the 24 hr food deprived rats. These results indicate a faster 5-hydroxytryptamine turnover rate in the LH of 24 hr food deprived rats than in nondeprived rats.