Dopamine-derived tetrahydroisoquinolines and Parkinson's disease.
The daily urinary excretion of salsolinol, 1,2-dehydrosalsolinol, and norsalsolinol, as free, glucuronide, and sulfate, has been measured in parkinsonian patients and age-matched controls in an attempt to examine whether the determination of dopamine-derived alkaloids in urine may be used as a marker of the decrease in brain dopamine levels associated with the disease. In contrast with a preliminary study where the daily urinary excretion of total salsolinol was significantly higher in young controls than in parkinsonians, in the present study no difference was found between parkinsonian patients and controls concerning salsolinol and norsalsolinol excretion. However, the urinary excretion of total 1,2-dehydrosalsolinol was significantly higher in the control group, owing to a statistically significant increase in its excretion as sulfate in this group. Further studies appear to be necessary to establish whether 1,2-dehydrosalsolinol, salsolinol, and/or any other dopamine-derived alkaloid may serve for the detection of subjects with dysfunctions of the dopaminergic system.
Dostert
P
P
Farmitalia Carlo Erba, Research and Development-Erbamont Group, Milan, Italy.
Strolin Benedetti
M
M
Della Vedova
F
F
Allievi
C
C
La Croix
R
R
Dordain
G
G
Vernay
D
D
Durif
F
F
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007546:Isoquinolines / Q000652:urine*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010300:Parkinson Disease / Q000652:urine*; D012016:Reference Values; D012490:Salsoline Alkaloids / Q000652:urine
D007546:Isoquinolines; D012490:Salsoline Alkaloids; C051345:1,2-dehydrosalsolinol; C036617:salsolinol; C020784:norsalsolinol