Direct assay of 3-methoxy-4-hydroxy-phenylglycol (MHPG) in human saliva; a new approach in the assessment of noradrenergic function.
The present paper offers a simple, reliable and specific method for the evaluation of salivary level of conjugated MHPG in 16 children (5-16 years) selected as control group. In the chosen group, we established the urinary level of NA: 17.64 +/- 1.38 micrograms/24 h, of A: 5.87 +/- 0.44 micrograms/24 h, of MHPG: 1.62 +/- 0.14 mg/24 h, of VMA: 1.54 +/- 10.10 mg/24 h. In all patients we assayed salivary MHPG: 57 +/- 5.25 mg/ml; in only 6 patients we also determined salivary NA: 2.21 +/- 0.11 micrograms/l and A: 0.25 +/- 0.03 micrograms/l. The MHPG in saliva correlates with urinary MHPG but doesn't correlate with NA in saliva or in urine. The assay of salivary MHPG may represent a non-invasive procedure of evaluation of noradrenergic tonus in children.
Stefănescu
A M
AM
C.I. Parhon Institute of Endocrinology, Bucharest, Romania.
Popa
M
M
Dumitriu
L
L
D000293:Adolescent; D000311:Adrenal Glands / Q000502:physiology*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D002855:Chromatography, Thin Layer / Q000379:methods; D003404:Creatinine / Q000652:urine; D004837:Epinephrine / Q000652:urine; D006018:Glycols; D006801:Humans; D008734:Methoxyhydroxyphenylglycol / Q000032:analysis*; D009638:Norepinephrine / Q000652:urine; D012016:Reference Values; D012463:Saliva / Q000032:analysis*; D014642:Vanilmandelic Acid / Q000652:urine
D006018:Glycols; D008734:Methoxyhydroxyphenylglycol; D014642:Vanilmandelic Acid; D003404:Creatinine; D009638:Norepinephrine; D004837:Epinephrine