Investigations of Serotonin Metabolism in Mammalian and Other Deuterostome Model Systems

Here the metabolism of 5-HT has been investigated in higher animals, the deuterostomes, which included the invertebrates Xenoturbella bocki, a marine worm, and Strongylocentrotus purppuratus, the sea urchin as well as mammals such as Rattus norvegicus. Studies were performed using a highly specialized capillary electrophoresis (CE) system designed to detect 5-HT and related compounds at attomole levels. The invertebrate deuterstomes investigated were found to metabolize 5-HT in a manner similar to both more primitive invertebrates and to vertebrates; results include the discovery of metabolites such as gammaglutamyl 5-HT, 5-HT sulfate (5-HT-SO4) and 5-hydroxyindole acetic acid (5-HIAA) in these organisms. A novel 5-HT metabolite in the rat (Rattus norvegicus ), 5-hydroxyindole thiazolidine carboxylic acid (5-HITCA), was characterized via mass spectrometry (MS) and further investigated using CE. Levels of 5-HT and some of its key metabolites were also investigated in this mammal under conditions of induced serotonin syndrome, a physiological condition caused by an excessive increase in 5-HT levels often associated with a combination of antidepressant therapies. This research contributes to our understanding of the metabolic pathways of 5-HT in both healthy and disease states. The findings aid in understanding the 5-HT link to various disorders.

Name thesis:degree_name

Ph.D.

Level thesis:degree_level

Dissertation

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Chemistry

Grantor

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Year dc:date

2015

Author dc:creator

• Squires, Leah N.

Contributors dc:contributor

• Jonathan Sweedler

• Chemistry, Analytical

Language dc:language

eng

Identifier

(MiAaPQ)AAI3290389

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:www.ideals.illinois.edu:2142/84282