Intestinal absorption of tetrahydrobiopterin and biopterin in man

The origin of red blood cell biopterin

Data are presented to support the hypothesis that the biopterin content of red blood cells arises during erythropoiesis. Only when the plasma concentration rises above the erythrocyte concentration of biopterin is there likely to be diffusion into the cell.

Parenteral application of NADH in Parkinson's disease: clinical improvement partially due to stimulation of endogenous levodopa biosynthesis

Exogenous application of levodopa is conventionally used to equalize the striatal dopamine deficit in idiopathic Parkinson's disease (PD). The stimulation of endogenous biosynthesis of levodopa via activation of tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) has been proposed as new therapeutic concept in PD. This may be achieved by exogenous supply with the reduced coenzyme nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NADH). Aim of this open prospective study was to investigate (1) the efficacy of a new developed, parenteral application form of NADH on Parkinsonian symptoms and (2) the influence of bioavailability of levodopa. 15 patients, suffering from idiopathic PD (11 male, 4 female, age: 61.40[mean] +/- 10.27[SD] range: 44-74 years, Hoehn and Yahr stage: 3.03 +/- 0.69, range 2-4) received intravenous infusions of NADH (10 mg a' 30 min) over a period of 7 days in addition to conventional Parkinsonian pharmacotherapy. Parkinsonian symptoms were scored before (day 1) and after NADH treatment (day 8). Levodopa plasma levels were estimated over a period of four hours on the day before and on the first day of NADH application by HPLC. Parkinsonian patients showed a significant response, evaluated by the Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale Version 3.0 (p = 0.025; Wilcoxon test). Moreover application of NADH significantly increased bioavailability of plasma levodopa (AUC, p = 0.035; Cmax p = 0.025). In conclusion NADH in used galenic form may be a potent stimulator of endogenous levodopa biosynthesis with clinical benefit for Parkinsonian patients.

Stimulation of dopamine biosynthesis in cultured PC 12 phaeochromocytoma cells by the coenzyme nicotinamide adeninedinucleotide (NADH)

The activity of the tyrosine hydroxylase, the enzyme which is diminished in the brains of Parkinson patients, has been measured in cultured PC 12 rat phaeochromocytoma cells. In the same way dopamine content in the medium after incubating these cells with or without NADH was assayed. The experiment shows that NADH is able to increase the activity of the tyrosine hydroxylase and dopamine - production in PC 12 cells up to 6 times. The results provide evidence that NADH is able to stimulate dopamine - biosynthesis directly.

Biopterin and neopterin in various milks and infant formulas

Biopterin and neopterin concentrations were measured by reverse-phase high pressure liquid chromatography in milks of man, cow, rabbit, cat, and rat and in commercial formulas widely used in North America. There was wide variation of concentration among species. Higher concentrations of biopterin were present in human milk (392.0 +/- 158.6 pmol/ml) than were present in all milk formulas analyzed (2.6-50.6 pmol/ml).