Effets du cortisol sur l'élimination urinaire des hydroxy indols et de la cynurénine

Abstract The influence of cortisol on the excretion of tryptophan metabolites (serotonin, kynurenine and 5 HIAA) has been examined. Due to the small numbers investigated, conclusions should be avoided and the following ideas can be derived: - Cortisol clearly reduced urinary serotonin in persons having a high serotonin excretion before the administration. - Cortisol increased urinary kynurenine in 9 persons out of 12 confirming that cortisol is able to activate the tryptophan pyrrolase. - Cortisol reduced 5 HIAA in 7 persons out of 12. This is in agreement with previous experiments. Our results complete our previous tests on the influence of cortisol on free serotonin in human plasma, and will be continued.