Abstract
INTRAPERITONEAL injection of 5-hydroxytryptophan (5HTP) shortly before death causes a considerable post-mortem rise of 5-hydroxytryptamine (5HT) in the brain of rats. This may be explained by the fact that 5HTP decarboxylation continues during the first few hours post-mortem whereas monoamine degradation by monoamine oxidase is probably considerably reduced1. In the work reported here the question was investigated whether this 5HTP induced post-mortem increase of brain 5HT might be used as a test for decarboxylase inhibitions. D,L-α-Methyl dihydroxyphenylalanine (α-methyl DOPA)2–6 served as a model inhibitor.
This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution
Access options
Subscribe to this journal
Receive 51 print issues and online access
$199.00 per year
only $3.90 per issue
Buy this article
- Purchase on Springer Link
- Instant access to full article PDF
Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Gey, K. F., and Pletscher, A., Experientia (in the press).
Sourkes, T. L., Arch. Biochem., 51, 444 (1954).
Westermann, E., Balzer, H., and Knell, J., Naunyn-Schmiedeberg's Arch. Exp. Path. Pharmakol., 234, 194 (1958).
Sourkes, T. L., and Murphy, G. F., Fed. Proc., 19, 295 (1960).
Oates, J. A., Gillespie, L., Udenfriend, S., and Sjoerdsma, A., Science, 131, 1890 (1960).
Smith, S. E., J. Pharmacol., 15, 319 (1960).
Bogdanski, D. F., Pletscher, A., Brodie, B. B., and Udenfriend, S., J. Pharmacol. Exp. Therap., 117, 82 (1956).
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
PLETSCHER, A., GEY, K. Assay of 5-Hydroxytryptophan Decarboxylation in Intact Brain. Nature 190, 918–919 (1961). https://doi.org/10.1038/190918b0
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/190918b0
This article is cited by
-
Der Einflu� der Verabreichung von Aminos�uren, speziell von L-Dopa und ?-Methyldopa, auf die Zusammensetzung des Liquor cerebrospinalis bei extrapyramidalen Syndromen
Deutsche Zeitschrift f�r Nervenheilkunde (1969)
Comments
By submitting a comment you agree to abide by our Terms and Community Guidelines. If you find something abusive or that does not comply with our terms or guidelines please flag it as inappropriate.
