ABSTRACT
This chapter describes some amino acids and their metabolites function as neurotransmitters, there is potential for use of dietary amino acids supplements in treating conditions such as trichothecene mycotoxicoses. The indoleamines and catecholamines are two categories of neurotransmitters which are snythesized from amino acids and for which there is potential for regulation of synthesis by precursor concentration in the brain. Dietary manipulation has been used to alter blood concentratons of amino acids which can alter the uptake of tryptophan and tyrosine by the brain. T-2 toxicosis is characterized by lesions in numerous tissues including an impairment of immune function which has been reported in mice and cattle. If T-2 toxin was reducing the degree of protein binding for tryptophan, this would increase blood concentratons of free tryptophan and promote tryptophan uptake by the brain. Dosing with T-2 toxin caused significant increases in the plasma concentrations of tryptophan, leucine, isoleucine, valine, tyrosine, phenylanaline, and histidine.
