Exposure to light accelerates the formation of dopamine from exogenous L-dopa in the rat retina.
Dopaminergic neurons of retina are activated when rats are placed in a lighted environment. L-DOPA, the precursor of dopamine, was administered to rats that were housed either in the light or the dark. In the light more dopamine and its metabolite 3,4-dihydroxyphenylacetic acid were formed from L-DOPA when compared with animals given the same dose of L-DOPA, but kept in the dark. Our results suggest that the in vivo decarboxylation of DOPA may be modulated by neuronal activity in the rat retina.
D000818:Animals; D004296:Dopa Decarboxylase / Q000502:physiology; D004298:Dopamine / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D007980:Levodopa / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000378:metabolism*; D008027:Light; D008297:Male; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains; D012160:Retina / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*
D007980:Levodopa; D004296:Dopa Decarboxylase; D004298:Dopamine