Formaldehyde-derived tetrahydroisoquinolines and tetrahydro-beta-carbolines in human urine.
Human urine samples were examined for the occurrence of formaldehyde-derived tetrahydroisoquinolines and tetrahydro-beta-carbolines generated by condensation of the methanol oxidation product with biogenic amines. Positive results were obtained for the tryptamine condensation product 1,2,3,4-tetrahydro-beta-carboline and the serotonine condensation product 6-hydroxy-1,2,3,4-tetrahydro-beta-carboline as well as for the condensation products with tyramine, dopamine, adrenaline and noradrenaline 1,2,3,4-tetrahydroisoquinoline, 6,7-dihydroxy-1,2,3,4-tetrahydroisoquinoline, N-methyl-4,6,7-trihydroxy-1,2,3,4-tetrahydroisoquinoline, 4,6,7-trihydroxy-1,2,3,4-tetrahydroisoquinoline, and the metabolite 6-methoxy-7-hydroxy-1,2,3,4-tetrahydroisoquinoline. Negative results were obtained for N-methyl-1,2,3,4-tetrahydroisoquinoline and 6,7-dimethoxy-1,2,3,4-tetrahydroisoquinoline, N-methyl-1,2,3,4-tetrahydro-beta-carboline, 6-methyl-1,2,3,4-tetrahydro-beta-carboline, and 6-methoxy-1,2,3,4-tetrahydro-beta-carboline in samples of chronic alcoholics as well as in the urine of healthy volunteers. No correlation between alcohol ingestion or state of alcoholization could be demonstrated.
Institute of Legal Medicine, Heinrich-Heine-University Düsseldorf, Germany.
F
F
Musshoff
T
T
Daldrup
W
W
Bonte
A
A
Leitner
O M
OM
Lesch
D000437:Alcoholism / Q000209:etiology / Q000652:urine*; D002243:Carbolines / Q000737:chemistry / Q000652:urine*; D005557:Formaldehyde / Q000737:chemistry; D008401:Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry; D006801:Humans; D007546:Isoquinolines / Q000737:chemistry / Q000652:urine*
D002243:Carbolines; D007546:Isoquinolines; D005557:Formaldehyde