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. 1971 Mar;68(3):662–666. doi: 10.1073/pnas.68.3.662

Effects of L-Dopa on Norepinephrine Metabolism in the Brain

J P Chalmers 1,2, R J Baldessarini 1,2, R J Wurtman 1,2
PMCID: PMC389012  PMID: 5276777

Abstract

Rats received intracisternal [3H]norepinephrine and, after 5 min, intraperitoneal L-dopa (100 mg/kg); they were killed at intervals during the subsequent 24 hr. Their brains were assayed for norepinephrine, L-dopa, S-adenosylmethionine, and [3H]norepinephrine and its metabolites. Rats that received L-dopa had markedly lower brain concentrations of S-adenosylmethionine and of O-methylated metabolites of [3H]norepinephrine than controls. An increase (15-40%) in brain norepinephrine content and accelerated turnover of brain norepinephrine was also observed in the animals receiving L-dopa. These changes were all transient, lasting about 1 hr and coinciding with the period when appreciable amounts of L-dopa were detectable in the brain.

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Selected References

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