Tolerance to the increased locomotor activity produced by L-5-hydroxytryptophan following peripheral decarboxylase inhibition in mice.

The development of tolerance to hyperactivity produced by L-5-hydroxytryptophan (5-HTP) was studied in mice pretreated with the peripheral decarboxylase inhibitor MK-486. The results of Experiment I indicated that partial tolerance developed to 5-HTP given twice daily (i.p.) at a dose of 400 mg/kg, but not at a dose of 800 mg/kg. Sustained hyperactivity at the greater dose (800 mg/kg) apparently resulted from the induction of seizures and stereotypy rather than increased locomotor activity. When 5-HTP (400 mg/kg) or saline was administered three times daily (Experiments II and III), the locomotor activity of saline control groups did not differ significantly from chronic 5-HTP-treated groups, but both differed significantly from that of acute 5-HTP-treated animals. Cessation of treatments resulted in a recovery of 5-HTP-induced hyperactivity for experimental animals when later retested. These findings suggest that mice develop tolerance to the effects of 5-HTP on locomotor activity and agree with the hypothesis that behavior change is more closely correlated with the rate of change in concentration of neurotransmitters than the absolute concentrations.