ENDOGENOUS ALKALOIDS IN THE BRAIN OF RATS LOADED WITH TYROSINE TRYPTOPHAN AND IN THE SERUM OF PATIENTS OF NEURODEGENERATIVE AND PSYCHIATRIC-DISORDERS/

Since binding sites for morphine, nicotine and strychnine exist in the brain, it is possible that they may have some role in neuronal functi on. The presence/variation in the levels of these alkaloids in the bra in of rats fed tryptophan and tyrosine, and in the serum of patients w ith some neurodegenerative and psychiatric disorders were studied. Bra in of rats loaded with tyrosine (500 mg/kg b wt X 14 days) showed incr eased amounts of morphine, while that from animals loaded with tryptop han tin the same dose) showed presence of strychnine and increased amo unts of nicotine. Strychnine is being reported in mammalian brain for the first time. Serum of patients with epilepsy, Parkinson's disease ( PD) and manic depressive psychosis (MDP) was also examined for the pre sence of these alkaloids. Serum of control subjects did not show the p resence of any of these alkaloids, while that of all 3 patient groups contained strychnine. Morphine was present only in the serum of patien ts of MDP. Nicotine was present in trace amounts in the serum of all t hese patients. Presence of these alkaloids in the serum of patients of neurodegenerative and psychiatric disorders is being reported for the first time, to the best of our knowledge.