Comparative metabolism of D-and L-3,4-dihydroxyphenylalanine in normal and pyridoxine-deficient rats

Dopamine synthesis, uptake, metabolism, and receptors: relevance to gene therapy of Parkinson's disease

This article gives a brief overview of the current understanding of the life cycle of the dopamine molecule, covering dopamine synthesis, storage, release, receptor and autoreceptor interactions, and reuptake. Special consideration is given to biochemical changes that occur in the nigrostriatal dopamine system in Parkinson's disease and how gene therapy may provide a new strategy for reversing parkinsonian biochemical deficits.

Metabolism of 3, 4-dihydroxyphenylalanine, its metabolites and analogues in vivo in the rat: urinary excretion pattern

The metabolism and interrelationships of orally and intraperitoneally administered L-dopa, related amino acids and their metabolites have been studied 2. Amino acids were decarboxylated. N-Methyldopa formed dopamine but not epinine. D-Dopa was absorbed from the intestine and metabolized by a series of reactions which resulted in greater decarboxylation than was observed after L-dopa. Transamination was a minor pathway. 3. m-Hydroxylated phenylpyruvic acids were poorly reduced, but vanilpyruvic acid was reduced fairly readily. Lactic acids were largely unchanged. Lactic and pyruvic acids formed phenylethylamines and their metabolites. Small amounts of phenylpyruvic acids may be decarboxylated to phenylacetic acids. 4. Glycine conjugates were formed from phenylacetic acids, a partially reversible change 3,4-Dihydroxyphenylacetic acid was metabolized to homovanillic and m-hydroxyphenylacetic acids, especially when given orally. Little 3-hydroxy-4-methoxyphenylacetic acid was oxidized to 3,4-dihydroxyphenylacetic acid but some increase in m-hydroxyphenylacetic acid excretion was observed. 5. 2-Phenylethanol analogues were largely converted to the corresponding acids. 3,4-Dihydroxyphenylethanol was partially m-O-methylated before oxidation. 6. beta-Phenylethylamine analogues were oxidized mainly to phenylacetic acids. but a variable amount of analogous phenylethanol was also formed, especially from m-tyramine. Dopamine was O-methylated, a process not readily reversible. It was also p-dehydroxylated following oral and intraperitoneal administration but not after oral neomycin; biliary excretion of amines may be involved in this sequence of events. N-Methylated amines were oxidized less readily than the parent amine. 7. Differences in route of administration resulted in quantitative changes in degradation pathways, an effect deriving, to some extent, from p-dehydroxylation and O-methylation in the gut.

Nonparallel changes in brain monoamines of pyridoxine-deficient growing rats

The effects of a large number of neurotropic drugs have been attributed to changes in the metabolism of 5-hydroxytryptamine. The aromatic amino acid decarboxylase considered to decarboxylate both dihydroxyphenylalanine and 5-hydroxytryptophan requires pyridoxal phosphate as coenzyme. Thus, in pyridoxine deficiency one would expect a decrease of serotonin as well as the catecholamines of the brain. In the present study we have found a very significant decrease in brain serotonin of the pyridoxine-deficient growing rat. However, the brain levels of norepinephrine and dopamine were not altered. This decrease in serotonin does not result from a decrease either in the brain level of trytophan or the activity of tryptophan hydroxylase. Increased degradation of serotonin measured by the levels of its metabolite, 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid is also excluded, thus suggesting the possibility that the decarboxylation of 5-hydroxytryptophan is decreased in pyridoxine deficiency.