INTERACTION OF 1,2,3,4-TETRAHYDROISOQUINOLINE WITH SOME COMPONENTS OFCIGARETTE-SMOKE - POTENTIAL IMPLICATIONS FOR PARKINSONS-DISEASE

Tetrahydroisoquinoline (TIQ), a presumed proneutrotoxin linked with Pa rkinson's disease (PD), was found to interact with some components of cigarette smoke to give N-(cyanomethyl)-TIQ (CMTIQ), N-(1'-cyanoethyl) -TIQ (CETIQ), N-(1'-cyanopropyl)-TIQ (CPTIQ), N-(1'-cyanobutyl)-TIQ (C BTIQ), and 1-cyano-TIQ (1CTIQ). The in vitro formation of these compou nds under physiological conditions occurs rapidly and with a high yiel d. Significant differences in the recovery of the different compounds were obtained when the data obtained from Burley tobacco were compared to those obtained from Bright tobacco. Following chronic administrati on of TIQ and a solution of cigarette smoke to rats, the presence of s ome of these compounds was also detected in the brain. (C) 1996 Academ ic Press, Inc.