Research article summary (published 30 Jul 2009):

Linking chronic tryptophan deficiency with impaired bone metabolism and reduced bone accrual in growing rats.

Full Abstract

There is increasing evidence that serotonin may regulate bone metabolism. However, its role remains to be clarified. Serotonin seems to be either beneficial or detrimental for bone tissues depending on the pharmacological manipulation used. In this study we evaluated the impact of a reduction of serotonergic stores induced by chronic tryptophan (TRP) depletion on various bone parameters in growing rats. For this purpose rats received a TRP-free diet for 60 days. Bone mass, mineral content and density were measured by DXA and by pQCT in the appendicular skeleton. Bone metabolic markers included urinary deoxypyridinoline and serum osteocalcin measurements. IGF-I levels were also evaluated. In TRP-free diet rats, we found a decrease in body weight, a delayed femoral bone growth and bone mineral content as measured by DXA. pQCT analysis showed that these effects were related to a reduction of both cortical and trabecular bone and are associated with a reduction of bone strength. These effects are due to a negative shift in the balance between bone formation and resorption with a significant decrease in bone formation as evidenced by a reduction both in osteocalcin and IGF-I levels. The present data extend our overall knowledge on the participation of serotonin in the regulation of growing bone and could be of interest in studying the impairment of bone growth in depressed subjects under particular condition of rapid bone accrual such as childhood and adolescence. (c) 2009 Wiley-Liss, Inc.

Author information

Author/s: Sibilia, Valeria (V); Pagani, Francesca (F); Lattuada, Norma (N); Greco, Antonella (A); Guidobono, Francesca (F);

Affiliation: Department of Pharmacology, Chemotherapy and Medical Toxicology, University of Milano, Milano, Italy. valeria.sibilia(-atsign-)unimi.it

Journal and publication information

Publication Type: Journal Article; Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

Journal: Journal of cellular biochemistry (J Cell Biochem), published in United States. (Language: eng)

Reference: 2009-Aug; vol 107 (issue 5) : pp 890-8

Dates: Created 2009/07/22; Completed 2009/10/13;

PMID: 19459167, status: MEDLINE (last retrieval date: 10/13/2009, IMS Date: )

Sourced from the National Library of Medicine. Abstract text and other information may be subject to copyright.

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MeSH headings (categories)

This article was linked to the MESH Headings shown below.

Absorptiometry, Photon Amino Acids - urine Animals Body Weight Bone Development - physiology Bone Remodeling Bone and Bones - metabolism Chronic Disease Diet Feeding Behavior

Feeding Behavior Femur - metabolism Hydroxyindoleacetic Acid - urine Insulin-Like Growth Factor I - metabolism Male Rats Rats, Sprague-Dawley Tibia - metabolism Tomography, X-Ray Computed Tryptophan - deficiency

Associated Chemicals: Amino Acids (0) ; Hydroxyindoleacetic Acid (54-16-0) ; Insulin-Like Growth Factor I (67763-96-6) ; Tryptophan (73-22-3) ; deoxypyridinoline (90032-33-0)

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