N-methyladrenaline: age-dependent urinary excretion, perinatal organ content and relation with 'classical' catecholamines.
Using high performance liquid chromatography with electrochemical detection we determined free dopamine, noradrenaline, adrenaline and N-methyladrenaline in: (1) urines from newborns (n = 32), children (n = 45) and adults (n = 19) and (2) adrenals, organ of Zuckerkandl, dorsal roots and perirenal brown adipose tissue from deceased fetuses (n = 2), very premature (n = 6) and term (n = 2) newborns and infants (n = 2). Data from children and adults showed that contributions of adrenaline and N-methyladrenaline to the sum of urinary free catecholamines increase with age. Relative amounts of adrenaline and N-methyladrenaline increased in both adrenal and extra adrenal chromaffin tissues from late gestation up to several months of postnatal life. Increase of adrenal N-methyladrenaline content follows endocrine maturation of the medulla, phenylethanolamine-N-methyltransferase induction and subsequent adrenaline synthesis. Relative amounts of N-methyladrenaline in extra adrenal chromaffin tissue increase in a period that is associated with its regression. Further investigations are necessary to elucidate the function and possible clinical chemical usefulness of N-methyladrenaline.
Kema
I P
IP
Central Laboratory for Clinical Chemistry, University and University Hospital of Groningen, The Netherlands.
Schoots
C J
CJ
Gidding
C E
CE
Okken
A
A
Aarnoudse
J G
JG
Muskiet
F A
FA
D000311:Adrenal Glands / Q000378:metabolism; D000328:Adult; D000375:Aging / Q000378:metabolism*; D002395:Catecholamines / Q000378:metabolism*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; D004563:Electrochemistry; D004837:Epinephrine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000652:urine; D005260:Female; D008401:Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry; D005865:Gestational Age; D006801:Humans; D007202:Indicators and Reagents; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007234:Infant, Premature; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged
D002395:Catecholamines; D007202:Indicators and Reagents; C004721:N-methylepinephrine; D004837:Epinephrine