Phenylethylamine: Possible Role in Depression and Antidepressive Drug Action. In: Myers RD, Drucker-colín RR, editors. Neurohumoral Coding of Brain Function. Boston: Springer US; 1974. pp. 331-57. [DOI: 10.1007/978-1-4684-3066-0_19]

Trace amine-associated receptor 1-Family archetype or iconoclast?

Interest has recently been rekindled in receptors that are activated by low molecular weight, noncatecholic, biogenic amines that are typically found as trace constituents of various vertebrate and invertebrate tissues and fluids. The timing of this resurgent focus on receptors activated by the "trace amines" (TA) beta-phenylethylamine (PEA), tyramine (TYR), octopamine (OCT), synephrine (SYN), and tryptamine (TRYP) is the direct result of 2 publications that appeared in 2001 describing the cloning of a novel G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR) referred to by their discoverers Borowsky et al. as TA1 and Bunzow et al. as TA receptor 1 (TAR1). When heterologously expressed in Xenopus laevis oocytes and various eukaryotic cell lines, recombinant rodent and human TAR dose-dependently couple to the stimulation of adenosine 3',5'-monophosphate (cAMP) production. Structure-activity profiling based on this functional response has revealed that in addition to the TA, other biologically active compounds containing a 2-carbon aliphatic side chain linking an amino group to at least 1 benzene ring are potent and efficacious TA receptor agonists with amphetamine (AMPH), methamphetamine, 3-iodothyronamine, thyronamine, and dopamine (DA) among the most notable. Almost 100 years after the search for TAR began, numerous TA1/TAR1-related sequences, now called TA-associated receptors (TAAR), have been identified in the genome of every species of vertebrate examined to date. Consequently, even though heterologously expressed TAAR1 fits the pharmacological criteria established for a bona fide TAR, a major challenge for those working in the field is to discern the in vivo pharmacology and physiology of each purported member of this extended family of GPCR. Only then will it be possible to establish whether TAAR1 is the family archetype or an iconoclast.

Analysis of the pentafluorobenzoyl derivative of phenylethylamine utilizing negative ion chemical ionization and gas chromatography/mass spectrometry

A negative ion chemical ionization (NICI) mass spectrometric procedure has been developed to measure phenylethylamine in human urine as the pentafluorobenzoyl derivative. The aromatic amine was isolated from alkaline urine by hexane and ethyl acetate extraction followed by a back-extraction into diluted acid. The acid extract was lyophilized and the residue derivatized with (2,3,4,5,6)-pentafluorobenzoyl chloride. Quantification was achieved by comparing the peak areas of the [M-HF]- ion to a ratio of internal and external standards. The phenylethylamine levels excreted by normal subjects and patients with phenylketonuria were found to be consistent with previous reports.

Effect of para-methoxyphenylethylamine on chronic stress-induced hypertension in the rat

This report presents data showing that par-methoxyphenylethylamine is effective in both preventing and reversing chronic stress-induced hypertension in the rat.

A method for the estimation of 2-phenylethylamine in human urine by gas chromatography

A gas chromatographic procedure with flame ionisation detection has been developed to measure 2-phenylethylamine in human urine as the trifluoroacetyl derivative. The amine is purified by an ether extraction procedure and derivatised with trifluoroacetic anhydride. Quantification is obtained by comparing the peak height with that for an internal standard added to the urine before extraction. The normal 24-h excretion value for 2-phenylethylamine in human urine is found to be 6.8 +/- 2.9 mug (mean +/- S.D.).