Differential effect of benserazide (Ro4-4602) on the concentration of indoleamines in rat pineal and hypothalamus.
1 Low doses (50 and 80 mg/kg) of benserazide (Ro4-4602), an aromatic amino acid decarboxylase inhibitor, markedly reduced 5-hydroxytryptamine and melatonin in the rat pineal gland without affecting hypothalamic 5-hydroxytryptamine. 2 This differential effect shows that inhibition of the pineal gland decarboxylase activity is possible, and confirms that the rat pineal gland is accessible to peripherally acting agents.
D000818:Animals; D001545:Benserazide / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006834:Hydrazines / Q000494:pharmacology*; D007031:Hypothalamus / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D008550:Melatonin / Q000378:metabolism*; D010870:Pineal Gland / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D051381:Rats; D012701:Serotonin / Q000378:metabolism*
D006834:Hydrazines; D012701:Serotonin; D001545:Benserazide; D008550:Melatonin