Catechol-O-methyltransferase and Parkinson's disease.
OMD inhibits L-DOPA utilization in rat corpus striatum. This effect is probably mediated through competition with L-DOPA for brain uptake mechanism. Such competition may explain the inhibition exerted by OMD on L-DOPA-induced rotation in rats with unilateral destruction of the nigrostriatal pathway. U-0521, a potent COMT inhibitor, was shown, after i.p. injection, to effectively block the accumulation of OMD in the plasma and to enhance L-DOPA metabolism in rat brain. This drug, however, was not active when given orally to rats and to a single patient with Parkinson's disease. It is suggested that the combined use of L-DOPA plus an orally active COMT inhibitor may be useful in future treatment of Parkinson's disease.
D000818:Animals; D001921:Brain / Q000378:metabolism*; D002394:Catechol O-Methyltransferase / Q000378:metabolism*; D003342:Corpus Striatum / Q000378:metabolism; D007980:Levodopa / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D008750:Methyldopa / Q000494:pharmacology*; D010300:Parkinson Disease / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000201:enzymology*; D011427:Propiophenones / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains
D011427:Propiophenones; D007980:Levodopa; C006104:U 0521; D008750:Methyldopa; D002394:Catechol O-Methyltransferase