Hanley H G, Stahl S M, Freedman D X
Arch Gen Psychiatry. 1977 May;34(5):521-31. doi: 10.1001/archpsyc.1977.01770170031002.
Mean whole blood serotonin (5-HT) levels were elevated in groups of autistic and severely retarded children. Eight of 27 (30%) individual autistic children, 13 of 25 (52%) severely retarded children, two of 23 (9%) mildly retarded children, and none of the control children had statistically significant blood 5-HT levels elevations (hyperserotonemia). Hyperserotonemic autistic children excreted more urinary 5-HT, 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid (5-HIAA), tryptamine, and vanillylmandelic acid than did mildly retarded children with normal blood 5-HT levels. Rates of depletion and repletion of blood 5-HT levels in these two groups following reserpine therapy were identical. Oral tryptophan administration doubled urinary 5-HIAA excretion in both groups and raised urinary 5-HT levels in hyperserotonemic autistic children, but lowered urinary 5-HT in mildly retarded, normal blood 5-HT children. No clear mechanism for hyperserotonemia was found; the rationale for further investigations is discussed.
自闭症儿童组和重度智力迟钝儿童组的全血血清素（5-羟色胺，5-HT）平均水平升高。27名自闭症儿童中有8名（30%）、25名重度智力迟钝儿童中有13名（52%）、23名轻度智力迟钝儿童中有2名（9%），而对照组儿童中无一例血液5-HT水平有统计学意义的升高（高血清素血症）。与血液5-HT水平正常的轻度智力迟钝儿童相比，高血清素血症的自闭症儿童排泄出更多的尿5-HT、5-羟吲哚乙酸（5-HIAA）、色胺和香草扁桃酸。这两组在利血平治疗后血液5-HT水平的消耗和补充速率相同。口服色氨酸使两组的尿5-HIAA排泄量增加一倍，并使高血清素血症的自闭症儿童的尿5-HT水平升高，但使血液5-HT水平正常的轻度智力迟钝儿童的尿5-HT水平降低。未发现高血清素血症的确切机制；文中讨论了进一步研究的理论依据。
