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STIMULATION OF BRAIN DOPAMINE SYNTHESIS BY GAMMA‐HYDROXYBUTYRATE
Author(s) -
Spano P. F.,
Tagliamonte A.,
Tagliamonte P.,
Gessa G. L.
Publication year - 1971
Publication title -
journal of neurochemistry
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.75
H-Index - 229
eISSN - 1471-4159
pISSN - 0022-3042
DOI - 10.1111/j.1471-4159.1971.tb09588.x
Subject(s) - dopamine , homovanillic acid , caudate nucleus , medicine , endocrinology , monoamine oxidase , basal ganglia , stimulation , chemistry , biology , biochemistry , serotonin , enzyme , central nervous system , receptor
— Gamma‐hydroxybutyrate administration produces a marked selective increase of brain dopamine in different animal species. Following γ ‐hydroxybutyrate administration, dopamine accumulated in the basal ganglia of the rat and in the caudate nucleus of the rabbit at a rate which greatly exceeded the normal synthesis rate of the amine in these species. Dopamine accumulation was prevented by α ‐methyltyrosine. These data indicate that γ ‐hydroxybutyrate stimulates dopamine synthesis. In addition, γ ‐hydroxybutyrate increased the homovanillic acid level in the rat basal ganglia to a maximum of about 300 per cent of the normal level indicating that γ ‐hydroxybutyrate inhibits neither monoamine oxidase nor catechol O ‐methyltransferase in vivo. The possible mechanisms of dopamine accumulation following γ ‐hydroxybutyrate administration are discussed.