Skip to main content
NCBI home page
British Journal of Pharmacology logoLink to British Journal of Pharmacology
. 1976 Feb;56(2):133–144. doi: 10.1111/j.1476-5381.1976.tb07436.x

Some pharmacological effects of p-chlorophenylalanine unrelated to tryptophan hydroxylase inhibition.

E Marley, J E Whelan
PMCID: PMC1666880  PMID: 130179

Abstract

1 Experiments were performed on a variety of tissues from different species to establish whether or not the properties of p-chlorophenylalanine methyl ester (PCPA) included a 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT)-like action which might explain the soporific action of PCPA in chicks. 2 PCPA, like 5-HT, contracted the rat fundal preparation (as did PCPA base), and in cats enhanced twitch tension of a lower limb flexor reflex, evoked adrenal medullary secretion and attenuated histamine-induced gastric secretion; the effects on the rat fundal strip and the adrenal medulla were prevented by methysergide. 3 Like 5-HT, PCPA elicited bronchoconstriction of guinea-pig lungs, isolated or in vivo; this was not prevented by methysergide but reduced by polyphloretin and by indomethacin. Perfusate collected from the lungs during PCPA-induced bronchoconstriction and applied to superfused isolated tissues contained a substance with prostaglandin-like activity. 4 In contrast, the effect of PCPA on the guinea-pig isolated ileum differed from that of 5-HT, since it relaxed the ileum when contracted by transmural excitation, by acetylcholine, histamine of 5-HT and contracted the ileum on wash-out.

Full text

PDF
133

Selected References

These references are in PubMed. This may not be the complete list of references from this article.

  1. Allen D. J., Garg K. N., Marley E. Mode of action of alpha-methylnoradrenaline on temperature and oxygen consumption in young chickens. Br J Pharmacol. 1970 Apr;38(4):667–687. doi: 10.1111/j.1476-5381.1970.tb09876.x. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  2. BRADLEY P. B., KEY B. J. The effect of drugs on arousal responses produced by electrical stimulation of the reticular formation of the brain. Electroencephalogr Clin Neurophysiol. 1958 Feb;10(1):97–110. doi: 10.1016/0013-4694(58)90107-x. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  3. Bennett A., Posner J. Studies on prostaglandin antagonists. Br J Pharmacol. 1971 Aug;42(4):584–594. doi: 10.1111/j.1476-5381.1971.tb07142.x. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  4. Comparison of activities of two prostaglandin stereoisomers: PGF2 alpha and PGF2 beta. Eur J Pharmacol. 1974 Jan;25(1):92–100. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  5. Delorme F., Froment J. L., Jouvet M. Suppression du sommeil par la p. chlorométhamphétamine et la p. chlorophénylalanine. C R Seances Soc Biol Fil. 1966;160(12):2347–2351. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  6. ERSPAMER V. Pharmacology of indole-alkylamines. Pharmacol Rev. 1954 Dec;6(4):425–487. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  7. Fjalland B. Adrenergic and serotoninergic mechanisms in gastric secretion in rats. Acta Pharmacol Toxicol (Copenh) 1973;33(2):103–112. doi: 10.1111/j.1600-0773.1973.tb01513.x. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  8. GADDUM J. H., PICARELLI Z. P. Two kinds of tryptamine receptor. Br J Pharmacol Chemother. 1957 Sep;12(3):323–328. doi: 10.1111/j.1476-5381.1957.tb00142.x. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  9. HARVEY J. A., PENNEFATHER J. N. Effect of adrenaline infusions on the catechol amine content of cat and rat tissues. Br J Pharmacol Chemother. 1962 Feb;18:183–189. doi: 10.1111/j.1476-5381.1962.tb01162.x. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  10. Johnson D. N., Funderburk W. H., Ruckart R. T., Ward J. W. Contrasting effects of two 5-hydroxytryptamine-depleting drugs on sleep patterns in cats. Eur J Pharmacol. 1972 Oct;20(1):80–84. doi: 10.1016/0014-2999(72)90218-x. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  11. KONZETT H. The effects of 5-hydroxytryptamine and its antagonists on tidal air. Br J Pharmacol Chemother. 1956 Sep;11(3):289–294. doi: 10.1111/j.1476-5381.1956.tb01068.x. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  12. Koe B. K., Weissman A. p-Chlorophenylalanine: a specific depletor of brain serotonin. J Pharmacol Exp Ther. 1966 Dec;154(3):499–516. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  13. Koella W. P., Feldstein A., Czicman J. S. The effect of para-chlorophenylalanine on the sleep of cats. Electroencephalogr Clin Neurophysiol. 1968 Nov;25(5):481–490. doi: 10.1016/0013-4694(68)90158-2. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  14. Marley E., Stephenson J. D. Effects of catecholamines infused into the brain of young chickens. Br J Pharmacol. 1970 Dec;40(4):639–658. doi: 10.1111/j.1476-5381.1970.tb10644.x. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  15. Marley E., Whelan J. E. Proceedings: Some unexpected pharmacological effects of p-chlorophenylalanine methyl ester (PCPA) methyl ester). Br J Pharmacol. 1974 Sep;52(1):133P–134P. [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  16. Marley E., Whelan J. E. Some central effects of 5-hydroxytryptamine in young chickens at and below thermoneutrality. Br J Pharmacol. 1975 Jan;53(1):37–41. doi: 10.1111/j.1476-5381.1975.tb07327.x. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  17. Mouret J., Bobillier P., Jouvet M. Effets de la parachlorophénylalanine sur le sommeil du Rat. C R Seances Soc Biol Fil. 1967;161(7):1600–1603. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  18. Piper P. J., Vane J. R. Release of additional factors in anaphylaxis and its antagonism by anti-inflammatory drugs. Nature. 1969 Jul 5;223(5201):29–35. doi: 10.1038/223029a0. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  19. Piper P., Vane J. The release of prostaglandins from lung and other tissues. Ann N Y Acad Sci. 1971 Apr 30;180:363–385. doi: 10.1111/j.1749-6632.1971.tb53205.x. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  20. REID G. Circulatory effects of 5-hydroxytryptamine. J Physiol. 1952 Dec;118(4):435–453. doi: 10.1113/jphysiol.1952.sp004806. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  21. Torda C. Effect of brain serotonin depletion on sleep in rats. Brain Res. 1967 Oct;6(2):375–377. doi: 10.1016/0006-8993(67)90204-1. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  22. VANE J. R. A sensitive method for the assay of 5-hydroxytryptamine. Br J Pharmacol Chemother. 1957 Sep;12(3):344–349. doi: 10.1111/j.1476-5381.1957.tb00146.x. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  23. VANE J. R. THE USE OF ISOLATED ORGANS FOR DETECTING ACTIVE SUBSTANCES IN THE CIRCULATING BLOOD. Br J Pharmacol Chemother. 1964 Oct;23:360–373. doi: 10.1111/j.1476-5381.1964.tb01592.x. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  24. Weitzman E. D., Rapport M. M., McGregor P., Jacoby J. Sleep patterns of the monkey and brain serotonin concentration: effect of p-chlorophenylalanine. Science. 1968 Jun 21;160(3834):1361–1363. doi: 10.1126/science.160.3834.1361. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]

Articles from British Journal of Pharmacology are provided here courtesy of The British Pharmacological Society

RESOURCES