title: Possible anti-Parkinson properties of N-(alpha-linolenoyl) tyrosine: a new molecule.
abstract: Tyrosine is unable to cross the blood-brain barrier and is therefore unable to improve the status of brain dopamine (DA) and to provide relief for patients with Parkinson's disease (PD) or other DA-insufficient disorders. We report the creation of an amide bond molecule [N-(alpha-linolenoyl)tyrosine (NLT)] that combines tyrosine with a fatty acid mixture. NLT significantly improves the rotational behavior of rats [following unilateral striatal lesions (as a model for Parkinson's)] and overcomes the exaggerated eye-blinking induced by a potent DA-depleting agent (as a model for essential blepharospasm). These results are supported by the finding that NLT's mode of action, in striatum, is the same as the mode of action of D-amphetamine. They both induce an increase in the DA level, DA turnover and release.
authors.affiliation: Psychopharmacology Laboratory, Department of Psychology, Bar Ilan University, Ramat Gan, 52900, Israel. yehudas@mail.biu.ac.il
authors.forename: Shlomo
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Yehuda
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000978:Antiparkinson Agents / Q000138:chemical synthesis / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003342:Corpus Striatum / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D004298:Dopamine / Q000378:metabolism; D004353:Drug Evaluation, Preclinical / Q000379:methods; D008042:Linolenic Acids / Q000138:chemical synthesis* / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D020734:Parkinsonian Disorders / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000378:metabolism; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D014443:Tyrosine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000138:chemical synthesis* / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D017962:alpha-Linolenic Acid / Q000138:chemical synthesis / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D000978:Antiparkinson Agents; D008042:Linolenic Acids; C478047:N-(alpha-linolenoyl)tyrosine; D017962:alpha-Linolenic Acid; D014443:Tyrosine; D004298:Dopamine