title: Effects of tolcapone, a novel catechol-O-methyltransferase inhibitor, on striatal metabolism of L-dopa and dopamine in rats.
abstract: In vivo brain microdialysis was used to assess the effects of tolcapone, a novel central and peripheral inhibitor of catechol-O-methyltransferase on striatal 3,4-dihydroxyphenyl-L-alanine (L-dopa) and dopamine metabolism. The oral administration of 30 mg/kg of tolcapone failed to change dopamine output but elicited a marked and long-lasting decrease of the extracellular levels of homovanillic acid (HVA) and 3-methoxytyramine with a concomitant increase of 3,4-dihydroxyphenylacetic acid (DOPAC). The administration of L-dopa (20 and 60 mg/kg p.o.) + benserazide (15 mg/kg p.o.) resulted in dose-dependent increase of dialysate levels of L-dopa and 3-O-methyl-DOPA. Tolcapone (30 mg/kg p.o.), given as adjunct to both doses of L-dopa, markedly enhanced the elevation or extracellular L-dopa, while it completely prevented the formation of 3-O-methyl-DOPA. In another experiment, the administration of L-dopa + benserazide (30 + 15 mg/kg p.o.) resulted in increased extracellular levels of dopamine, DOPAC, HVA and 3-methoxytyramine. The co-administration of tolcapone (30 mg/kg p.o.) further increased dopamine and DOPAC levels, whereas HVA and 3-methoxytyramine effluxes were reduced. These findings support the notion that tolcapone has the ability to enhance striatal dopamine neurotransmission by increasing L-dopa bioavailability through peripheral and central inhibition of L-dopa O-methylation, as well as by blocking the central conversion of dopamine into 3-methoxytyramine.
authors.affiliation: Pharma Division, F. Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd., Basel, Switzerland.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Napolitano
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Zürcher
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Da Prada
mesh_terms: D015102:3,4-Dihydroxyphenylacetic Acid / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D001545:Benserazide / Q000494:pharmacology; D001577:Benzophenones / Q000494:pharmacology*; D065098:Catechol O-Methyltransferase Inhibitors; D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; D004298:Dopamine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000378:metabolism*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D005110:Extracellular Space / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D006719:Homovanillic Acid / Q000378:metabolism; D007980:Levodopa / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000494:pharmacology; D008297:Male; D008745:Methylation; D017551:Microdialysis; D017072:Neostriatum / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D009596:Nitrophenols; D051381:Rats; D000077867:Tolcapone
chemical_list: D001577:Benzophenones; D065098:Catechol O-Methyltransferase Inhibitors; D009596:Nitrophenols; D015102:3,4-Dihydroxyphenylacetic Acid; D007980:Levodopa; D001545:Benserazide; D000077867:Tolcapone; C001746:3-methoxytyramine; D004298:Dopamine; D006719:Homovanillic Acid