Studies on the plasma tryptophan and urinary 5-hydroxy-3-indoleacetic acid in expedition members residing in Antarctica

• Main Authors: Shuhuai, Xu, Quanfu, Xue, Zuohong, Xue, Zonghui, Wang
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: Polar Research Institute of China - PRIC 1997
• Subjects: Antarctic; Great Wall Station; Advances in Polar Science; Antarc*; Antarctica; Polar Science
• Online Access: http://library.arcticportal.org/2129/; http://library.arcticportal.org/2129/1/A701.009.pdf

In order to clarify the possible relationship between the changes of behavior/personality and metabolic changes of 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) in Antarctic expedition members, plasma tryptophan (Trp) and urinary 5-hydroxy-3-indoleacetic acid (5-HIAA) were studied for 24 winter-over and 19 summer-over members of the 8th and 11th CHINARE respectively. Results showed that plasma Trp decreased significantly after residing 1-3 months at Great Wall Station and did not recover on returning back to Beijing from Antarctica by two weeks travelling. Urinary 5-HIAA increased significantly after residing 6 months at Great Wall Station, and recovered on returning back to Beijing from Antarctica in the winter-over members. The decrease of plasma Trp may be related to the decline of brain 5-HT which might play a role in the changes of behavior/personality. Increase of urinary 5-HIAA might reflect metabolic changes of 5-HT as a whole, but cold weather involving in the release response of platelet should be considered. Therefore, supplement of related food rich in Trp or intervention of L-Trp might be valuable.