A DOPAMINERGIC NEUROTOXIN, (R)-N-METHYLSALSOLINOL, INCREASES IN PARKINSONIAN CEREBROSPINAL-FLUID

The concentration of (R)-N-methylsalsolinol, which is a dopamine-deriv ed neurotoxin selective to dopamine neurons and induces parkinsonism i n rats, was found to be increased significantly in the cerebrospinal f luid of untreated patients with Parkinson's disease. The enantiospecif ic occurrence of (R)-N-methylsalsolinol in cerebrospinal fluid suggest s its enzymatic synthesis in the human brain. The individual differenc es in the activities of the enzymes determining the metabolism of (R)- N-methylsalsolinol in the brain might be involved in the pathogenesis of Parkinson's disease.