A radiotracer method for the measurement of central nervous system catecholamines in vivo.
A new strategy for measurement of brain catecholamines was tested in an animal model. [3H]Norepinephrine was infused intravenously in rabbits to label the peripheral norepinephrine pools. The specific activity of urinary 3-methoxy-4-hydroxymandelic acid was consistently higher than that for 3-methoxy-4-hydroxyphenyglycol (MHPG). Central sympathectomy with 6-hydroxydopamine abolished this difference. Using the formula we propose, it is estimated that 30-50% of urinary MHPG originates from the central nervous system.
D000818:Animals; D002490:Central Nervous System / Q000032:analysis*; D006892:Hydroxydopamines / Q000494:pharmacology; D008297:Male; D008734:Methoxyhydroxyphenylglycol / Q000032:analysis; D008954:Models, Biological; D009638:Norepinephrine / Q000032:analysis*; D011817:Rabbits; D011865:Radioisotope Dilution Technique; D013997:Time Factors; D014642:Vanilmandelic Acid / Q000032:analysis
D006892:Hydroxydopamines; D008734:Methoxyhydroxyphenylglycol; D014642:Vanilmandelic Acid; D009638:Norepinephrine