Julian L. Berman

The metabolism of 5-hydroxytryptamine (serotonin) in the newborn.

Infants have lower values of 5-hydroxytryptamine than do adults. This is related to the age and weight of the infants; adult values can be achieved by the administration of pyridoxine. Newborn rats have low concentrations of 5-hyroxytrypiophan decarboxylase in their kidneys; this was prolonged when their mothers were placed on a pyridoxine-deficient diet. Low levels of 5-hydroxytryptamine represent immaturity of the apoenzyme at birth and a relative deficiency of pyridoxine.