F. Karoum et al., ABSENCE OF 6-HYDROXYDOPAMINE IN THE RAT-BRAIN AFTER TREATMENT WITH STIMULANTS AND OTHER DOPAMINERGIC AGENTS - A MASS FRAGMENTOGRAPHIC STUDY, Journal of neurochemistry, 61(4), 1993, pp. 1369-1375
Formation of 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA) from dopamine has been hypothe
sized to mediate neuro-degeneration induced by some psychostimulants.
Although the emergence of a 6-OHDA-like substance was reported in the
striatum of methamphetamine-treated rats, this substance has not been
identified by a direct approach. We used mass fragmentography to searc
h for 6-OHDA in the rat frontal cortex and striatum after the administ
ration of a number of drugs including 3,4-dihydroxyphenyl-L-alanine, m
ethamphetamine, amphetamine, and cocaine, all of which increase synapt
ic dopamine. No 6-OHDA was detected after the acute systemic administr
ation of these agents. Intraventricular administration of 6-OHDA (10 m
ug/rat) produced measurable concentrations of 6-OHDA that were higher
in the striatum than in the frontal cortex. Intraventricular administr
ation of 2,4,5-trihydroxyphenyl-D,L-alanine (6-OHDOPA; 10 mug/rat) pro
duced similar concentrations of 6-OHDA in both regions. Pargyline, but
not carbidopa (alpha-methyldopahydrazine), enhanced the effect of int
raperitoneal 6-OHDOPA administration (80 mg/kg). We conclude that (1)
6-OHDOPA can cross the blood-brain barrier and is converted to 6-OHDA
in the brain, (2) 6-OHDA is a substrate for monoamine oxidase(s) and t
herefore a search for its purported deaminated metabolite is warranted
, and (3) acute treatment with the above stimulants either does not le
ad to the formation of 6-OHDA or produces concentrations below the det
ection limit of the assay (< 34 pg/mg of protein).