Low-dose apomorphine reduces serum homovanillic acid concentrations in schizophrenic patients.
This study was carried out to evaluate the postulated dopaminergic auto-receptor regulatory effect in man of low-dose apomorphine. Behavior and serum homovanillic acid concentrations following low-dose apomorphine were investigated. Five medicated chronic schizophrenic patients had serum homovanillic acid concentrations measured by mass fragmentography before and after 0.005 mg/kg of apomorphine or saline placebo. Results demonstrate significant reductions in serum homovanillic acid concentrations in all five subjects following apomorphine as compared with placebo. These findings present direct evidence of a specific dopamine autoreceptor effect of low-dose apomorphine in schizophrenic patients.
D000328:Adult; D001058:Apomorphine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005260:Female; D008401:Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry; D006719:Homovanillic Acid / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010648:Phenylacetates / Q000097:blood*; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000097:blood*; D013997:Time Factors
D010648:Phenylacetates; D001058:Apomorphine; D006719:Homovanillic Acid