Tryptophan availability, central serotonergic function and methionine sulphoximine-induced convulsions.

A convulsant dose (100 mg/kg) of l-methionine-RS-sulphoximine (MSO) produced temporally correlated decreases in central 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) and plasma and brain tryptophan (TRY) concentrations in C57BL/6J mice. In contrast, a subconvulsant dose of MSO (50 mg/kg) had no effect on central 5-HT levels and only decreased brain tryptophan at one time-point after its administration. The pattern of findings suggests that the decrease in central 5-HT levels resulting from a convulsant dose of MSO is related to an impairment in 5-HT synthesis resulting from a restriction of tryptophan availability. Administration of 25 mg/kg and 100 mg/kg doses of l-tryptophan with convulsant doses of MSO significantly increased seizure latency. It is suggested that the central 5-HT system modulates the expression of MSO-induced seizures.