title: Effect of chronic L-DOPA administration of catecholamine metabolism in the rat.
abstract: 1. L-DOPA was administered to rats by twice daily intraperitoneal injection for a period of eleven days. The daily dose was gradually increased from 250 mg/kg to 1 g/kg. The animals were killed 12 h after the last injection and tissue catechol-O-methyl transferase, DOPA-decarboxylase and monoamine oxidase activity determined.2. Catechol-O-methyl transferase activity was reduced in the liver (46%) and red blood cells (38%) but was approximately doubled in the heart.3. Liver DOPA-decarboxylase activity was reduced by approximately 25%.4. L-DOPA administration did not significantly affect the activity of any of the enzymes studied in brain tissue.
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001921:Brain / Q000187:drug effects / Q000201:enzymology; D002394:Catechol O-Methyltransferase / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism; D002395:Catecholamines / Q000378:metabolism*; D004295:Dihydroxyphenylalanine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004296:Dopa Decarboxylase / Q000378:metabolism; D004912:Erythrocytes / Q000201:enzymology; D005260:Female; D006321:Heart / Q000187:drug effects; D008099:Liver / Q000187:drug effects / Q000201:enzymology; D008995:Monoamine Oxidase / Q000378:metabolism; D009206:Myocardium / Q000201:enzymology; D051381:Rats
chemical_list: D002395:Catecholamines; D004295:Dihydroxyphenylalanine; D008995:Monoamine Oxidase; D002394:Catechol O-Methyltransferase; D004296:Dopa Decarboxylase