An analysis of urinary metabolites of tryptophan as related to alcoholism / by Stuart McGuire Thomson, Jr.
| Author/creator | Thomson, Stuart McGuire author. |
| Other author | Simpson, Everett C., degree supervisor. |
| Other author | East Carolina University. Department of Biology. |
| Format | Theses and dissertations |
| Production | 1986. |
| Description | vi, 66 leaves : illustrations, form ; 28 cm |
| Supplemental Content | Access via ScholarShip |
| Subjects |
| Summary | Alcoholism is a disease that has been a problem throughout recorded history. It was recognized even during early times that there is an hereditary component to alcoholism. An hereditary component means that there is some physical trait that can be genetically transmitted from generation to generation that predisposes one to alcoholism or makes one more vulnerable to becoming alcoholic. At least one manifestation of this trait seems to be an impaired serotonin metabolic pathway of tryptophan metabolism. Investigators, using many different types of tests, have indicated that people with the most severe form of alcoholism have an impaired serotonin metabolic pathway of tryptophan metabolism. However, the tests that were used were too complicated, cumbersome, or painful to be good screening tests. The purpose of this study was to develop a non-invasive and easy to use test, that can be used for screening. It was felt that the ratio between tryptophan metabolites in different metabolic pathways would remain approximately the same even though the amounts of the metabolites present in the urine would be expected to vary with the concentration of the urine and other factors. A test was developed, based on this assumption, that uses an HPLC with an electrochemical detector to quantify tryptophan metabolites. The test uses one urine collection and it requires a minimal of sample preparation. A ratio is determined between 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid (5-HIAA), the major metabolite of serotonin, and a tryptophan metabolite in another metabolic pathway such as indoleacetic acid (lAA). A person who has an impaired serotonin metabolic pathway would be expected to have a lower ratio than a person whose serotonin metabolic pathway was not impaired. In order to determine whether or not this test could discriminate between an alcoholic group and a non-alcoholic group, 5-HIAA/IAA and 5-HIAA/AA ratios were compared between these two groups. Statistical analysis indicated that these ratios can differentiate between alcoholic and non-alcoholic populations. |
| General note | "Presented to the faculty of the Department of Biology ... in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree Master of Science in Biology." |
| General note | Advisor: Everett C. Simpson |
| Dissertation note | M.S. East Carolina University 1986 |
| Bibliography note | Includes bibliographical references (leaves 63-66). |
| Genre/form | Academic theses. |
| Genre/form | Academic theses. |
| Genre/form | Thèses et écrits académiques. |
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|---|---|---|---|---|
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| Electronic Resources | Access Content Online | ✔ Available |