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Fig. 2 | Behavioral and Brain Functions

Fig. 2

From: A non-targeted metabolite profiling pilot study suggests that tryptophan and lipid metabolisms are linked with ADHD-like behaviours in dogs

Fig. 2

Simplified illustration of the possible metabolic pathways of dietary tryptophan in the intestines. Dietary tryptophan can be degraded in the intestines by enteric bacteria to produce IAA and IPA or KYNA via kynurenine. From the intestines, IPA, IAA and KYNA are transferred to circulation. IPA is known to cross BBB, and thus, can migrate to CNS and act there, but the ability of IAA and KYNA to cross BBB is uncertain. In addition to the degradation of dietary tryptophan in the intestines, KYNA and IAA can also be synthetised from tryptophan in various other tissues in the body, but IPA is solely produced in the intestines by enteric bacteria. BBB blood–brain barrier, CNS central nervous system, IAA indoleacetic acid, IDO indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase, IPA 3-indolepropionic acid, KYNA kynurenic acid

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Behavioral and Brain Functions

ISSN: 1744-9081

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