title: Neuroendocrinological effects of L-threo-3, 4-dihydroxyphenylserine (DOPS), a putative norepinephrine precursor, on healthy volunteers.
abstract: The effect of L-threo-3, 4-dihydroxyphenylserine (DOPS) on plasma cortisol, prolactin, thyrotropin-stimulating hormone (TSH) and growth hormone concentrations was studied in nine healthy male volunteers. The drug was administered orally (300 mg or 600 mg DOPS) using a multiple crossover placebo-controlled study design. Plasma hormone concentrations were measured at 30 minute intervals for 3 hours after dosing. Plasma DOPS peak concentrations were observed between 2 and 3 hours after dosing. DOPS, however, had no effect on plasma hormone concentrations and this may be attributed to the known low brain permeability of DOPS in healthy subjects.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neuropsychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, Tokyo Medical and Dental University.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Semba
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Nankai
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Okubo
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kato
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Matsuura
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Takahashi
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D001921:Brain / Q000187:drug effects*; D015103:Droxidopa / Q000097:blood / Q000494:pharmacology*; D013006:Growth Hormone / Q000097:blood; D006801:Humans; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000097:blood; D007700:Kinetics; D008297:Male; D008734:Methoxyhydroxyphenylglycol / Q000097:blood; D011388:Prolactin / Q000097:blood; D012694:Serine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives*; D013972:Thyrotropin / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D012694:Serine; D008734:Methoxyhydroxyphenylglycol; D011388:Prolactin; D013972:Thyrotropin; D013006:Growth Hormone; D015103:Droxidopa; D006854:Hydrocortisone