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The metabolism of L‐3–0‐methyldopa, aprecursor of dopa in man
Author(s) -
Kuruma I.,
Bartholini G.,
Tissot R.,
Pletscher A.
Publication year - 1971
Publication title -
clinical pharmacology and therapeutics
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.941
H-Index - 188
eISSN - 1532-6535
pISSN - 0009-9236
DOI - 10.1002/cpt1971124678
Subject(s) - homovanillic acid , methyldopa , dopamine , chemistry , metabolism , urine , demethylation , endocrinology , pharmacology , biochemistry , medicine , blood pressure , serotonin , gene expression , receptor , dna methylation , gene
L‐2‐ 14 C‐3‐methoxy, 4‐hydroxyphenylalanine (L‐ 14 C‐O‐methyldopa) has a biological half‐life of approximately 15 hours in human blood. 3‐Methoxy, 4‐hydroxyphenyllactic acid, homovanillic acid, and 3,4‐dihydroxyphenylacetic acid are metabolites found in the blood. The urinary excretion of radioactivity is slow and only a small proportion of excreted radioactivity represents unchanged O‐methyldopa. The same metabolites are found as in the blood as weU as small amounts of dopa, dopamine, and 3‐methoxytyramine. It is concluded that in man part of the L‐O‐methyldopa undergoes demethylation to dopa, which is further metabolized to dopamine and phenolcarboxylic acids.