Urinary excretion of 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid, serotonin and 6-sulphatoxymelatonin in normoserotonemic and hyperserotonemic autistic individuals.

Objective: A substantial proportion of individuals with autism have elevated levels of platelet serotonin (5-HT). We examined whether platelet hyperserotonemia is associated with increased gut 5-HT synthesis, altered 5-HT catabolism or altered melatonin production.

Methods: Urinary excretion of 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid (5-HIAA) and 5-HT was compared in 10 normoserotonemic and 10 hyperserotonemic age-matched autistic individuals.

Stimulation of fecal fat excretion and the disposal of protoporphyrin in a murine model for erythropoietic protoporphyria.

Erythropoietic protoporphyria (EPP) is characterized by toxic accumulation of the hydrophobic compound protoporphyrin (PP). Ferrochelatase-deficient (fch/fch) mice are an animal model for human EPP. Recently, we have demonstrated that the accumulation of another hydrophobic compound, unconjugated bilirubin, could effectively be treated by stimulation of fecal fat excretion.

Automated on-line solid-phase extraction coupled with HPLC for measurement of 5-hydroxyindole-3-acetic acid in urine.

Background: Quantification of 5-hydroxyindole-3-acetic acid (5-HIAA) in urine is useful in diagnosing and monitoring of patients with carcinoid tumors and in the study of serotonin (5-hydroxytryptamine) metabolism in various disorders. We describe an automated method that incorporates on-line solid-phase extraction (SPE) and HPLC to measure urinary 5-HIAA.

Methods: Automated prepurification of urine was accomplished with HySphere-resin GP SPE cartridges containing strong hydrophobic polystyrene resin.