title: Cocaine inhibits extraneuronal O-methylation of exogenous norepinephrine in nasal and oral tissues of the rabbit.
abstract: Nasal mucosa (respiratory and olfactory) and lingual gingiva of the rabbit were depleted of their sympathetic nerves by superior cervical ganglionectomy. In the innervated nasal mucosa, exogenous tritiated norepinephrine (3H-NE) was metabolised mainly to tritiated 3,4-dihydroxyphenylethylene glycol (3HDOPEG) and 3,4-dihydroxy mandelic acid (3HDOMA), whereas after denervation it was metabolised mainly to tritiated normetanephrine (3HNMN). In the denervated mucosa, cocaine (30 umol/1) inhibited 3HNMN formation by 50-60%. Cocaine also inhibited 3HNMN formation by 60% in the denervated lingual gingiva. It is concluded that the tissues metabolise 3H-NE via a cocaine-sensitive extraneuronal uptake and O-methylating system similar to that which has been shown to be present in dental pulp.
authors: Department of Clinical and Experimental Pharmacology, University of Adelaide, South Australia.
authors: I S
authors: IS
authors: de la Lande
authors: D A
authors: DA
authors: Parker
authors: C H
authors: CH
authors: Proctor
authors: V
authors: V
authors: Marino
authors: A
authors: A
authors: Mackay-Sim
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D003042:Cocaine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005727:Ganglia, Spinal / Q000502:physiology; D005881:Gingiva / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D008745:Methylation; D009297:Nasal Mucosa / Q000187:drug effects / Q000294:innervation / Q000378:metabolism*; D009638:Norepinephrine / Q000378:metabolism*; D011817:Rabbits
chemical_list: D003042:Cocaine; D009638:Norepinephrine