Differential metabolism of tetrahydrobiopterin in monoamine neurons: a hypothesis based upon clinical and basic research.
This chapter has attempted to describe and integrate some of the clinical and basic research that support our hypothesis that the metabolism of BH4 is normally heterogeneous across different populations of monoamine-containing neurons. Based upon this hypothesis, there may now be reason to support the idea that certain neuropsychiatric illnesses, which are though to be the result (at least in part) of altered monoamine metabolism, might find their roots in an abnormal metabolism of BH4 within specific monoaminergic cell groups. Such a specific dysfunction might not be apparent in the rest of the brain or peripheral nervous system, thereby being difficult to detect. Perhaps the application of molecular biological techniques to studies of BH4 metabolism in man will shed new light on these problems.
Kapatos
G
G
Department of Psychiatry, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, Michigan 48201.
Hirayama
K
K
Lentz
S I
SI
Zhu
M
M
Stegenga
S
S
D000818:Animals; D015306:Biogenic Monoamines / Q000378:metabolism*; D001708:Biopterins / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000378:metabolism; D001921:Brain / Q000378:metabolism*; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D007031:Hypothalamus / Q000378:metabolism; D008636:Mesencephalon / Q000378:metabolism; D009422:Nervous System Diseases / Q000378:metabolism; D009474:Neurons / Q000378:metabolism*
D015306:Biogenic Monoamines; D001708:Biopterins; C003402:sapropterin