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. 1974 Nov;71(11):4392–4394. doi: 10.1073/pnas.71.11.4392

Significance of Plasma Dopamine β-Hydroxylase Activity as an Index of Sympathetic Neuronal Function

John L Reid 1, Irwin J Kopin 1
PMCID: PMC433890  PMID: 4530990

Abstract

Plasma norepinephrine and dopamine β-hydroxylase (EC 1.14.17.1) activity were measured in rats. Adrenergic neuron blockade with bretylium for 4 hr and ganglion blockade with chlorisondamine for 72 hr lowered plasma norepinephrine. Neither treatment altered plasma dopamine β-hydroxylase activity. Phenoxybenzamine for up to 48 hr markedly raised plasma norepinephrine and transiently lowered plasma dopamine β-hydroxylase at 24 hr. Prolonged pharmacological modification of sympathetic nervous activity and plasma norepinephrine were not attended by parallel changes in circulating dopamine β-hydroxylase activity. Plasma dopamine β-hydroxylase activity does not appear to be a sensitive index of prolonged alterations in sympathetic neural activity. Norepinephrine in plasma, however, appears to reflect sensitively and accurately the rate of release of the neurotransmitter.

Keywords: norepinephrine, adrenergic neuronal blockade, bretylium, chlorisondamine, phenoxybenzamine

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Selected References

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

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