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The effect of caffeine and theophylline on the disposition of brain serotonin in the rat

1971; Elsevier BV; Volume: 16; Issue: 3 Linguagem: Inglês

10.1016/0014-2999(71)90034-3

1879-0712

Barry A. Berkowitz, Sydney Spector,

Pharmacological Effects and Assays

Single or multiple doses of caffeine increased the concentration of brainstem serotonin (40–100%). Caffeine also increased the concentration of 5-hydroxyindole acetic acid in the brain indicating that caffeine did not prevent serotonin deamination by monoamine oxidase. The effects on serotonin metabolism in the central nervous system were apparently not secondary to effects of caffeine on body temperature or behavior. The decline of brain serotonin elicited by an inhibitor of serotonin synthesis, parachlorophenylalanine, was prevented by the concomitant administration of caffeine or higher doses of theophylline. Either caffeine prevents the release of brain serotonin or is able to increase serotonin synthesis.