title: The metabolites of catecholamines in urine of patients irradiated therapeutically.
abstract: The metabolites of catecholamines were determined in 24-hour urine samples of patients with genital carcinoma and treated by radio therapy. The patients were irradiated first with gamma-rays of radium and then with X-rays. The radium sources (80 mCi) were placed intracavitarily for 46 hours twice within 2 weeks. X-irradiation (800 R daily), applied 1 month after radium treatment, was delivered on four abdominal fields over 15 days. The quantities of excreted catecholamine metabolites during irradiation were compared with control values (obtained before irradiation) in the same patients. Gamma-irradiation provoked a significant increase in the excretion of 3-methoxy-4-hydroxy-mandelic acid, metadrenaline and normetadrenaline, as well as of homovanillic acid, whereas X-irradiation provoked only a significant increase in the excretion of free 3-methoxy-4-hydroxy-phenylglycol. The increased excretion might be explained: (1) in the case of radium application, by direct radiation-induced release of catecholamines from the peripheral symphathetic nerves; (2) in the case of X-irradiation, by putting in the motion the complex of early neuroendocrine reactions via irradiated adrenal medulla.
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002395:Catecholamines / Q000652:urine*; D005260:Female; D005720:Gamma Rays / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006719:Homovanillic Acid / Q000652:urine; D006801:Humans; D008676:Metanephrine / Q000652:urine; D008734:Methoxyhydroxyphenylglycol / Q000652:urine; D008875:Middle Aged; D009647:Normetanephrine / Q000652:urine; D011878:Radiotherapy / Q000009:adverse effects*; D011883:Radium / Q000627:therapeutic use; D013312:Stress, Physiological / Q000209:etiology* / Q000652:urine; D002583:Uterine Cervical Neoplasms / Q000532:radiotherapy* / Q000652:urine; D014642:Vanilmandelic Acid / Q000652:urine; D014964:X-Ray Therapy
chemical_list: D002395:Catecholamines; D009647:Normetanephrine; D008676:Metanephrine; D008734:Methoxyhydroxyphenylglycol; D014642:Vanilmandelic Acid; D011883:Radium; D006719:Homovanillic Acid