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At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1976

Neurochemistry and behavior in man.

The distribution and functions of certain neurotransmitter substances seem to correlate with clinical, anatomical and physiological evidence about the mediation of normal and abnormal behaviors in man, though much remains to be learned. The biosynthetic and metabolic pathways, receptors and reuptake mechanisms, and relationships to cyclic nucleotides for several major neurotransmitters are characterized, as well as the specific actions of many behavior-modifying drugs employed clinically. Experimental systems, including nerve cells in culture, permit tests of molecular actions inferred from biochemical and neurophysiological analyses in intact brain. This selective review emphasizes advances in neurochemistry which provide a context for current and future research on neurological and psychiatric disorders encountered in clinical practice.

Affective Symptoms↗
PubMed1975

The neurochemistry of Parkinson's disease: effect of L-dopa therapy.

Post-mortem brain material from control and Parkinson's disease patients was examined to elucidate further the neurochemistry of this disease and to determine the mechanism of action of L-dopa as a therapeutic agent. The activities of L-aromatic amino acid decarboxylase (dopa D), tyrosine hydroxylase, monoamine oxidase and catechol-O-methyl transferase were examined; in addition the tissue levels of dopa, 3-O-methyldopa, dopamine (DA) and homovanillic acid (HVA) were determined. In the non-dopa-treated Parkinsonian patients, the greatest decreases were detected for striatal DA and dopa D, with homovanillic acid and tyrosine hydroxylase levels showing a lesser change. The activities of monoamine oxidase and catechol-O-methyl transferase in the striatal nuclei were not different from the controls. The putamen was consistently the most severely affected region. Dopa and 3-O-methyldopa were detectable in all brain areas only in those patients treated with L-dopa shortly before death. The mean concentrations of DA in the striatum of these patients were 1) 9 to 15 times higher than those in non-dopa-treated patients, 2) related to the time before death of the last dose of L-dopa and 3) greater in the striatum of patients clinically classified as "good responders" as compared to "poor responders." Although L-dopa therapy increased homovanillic acid levels in all brain areas, a preferential increase was observed in the striatum. It was concluded that L-dopa's principal therapeutic effects in Parkinson's disease are consistent with its transformation to DA in the striatum.

Aged↗
PubMed1979

Effects of ergot drugs on serotonergic function: behavior and neurochemistry.

Several new ergot drugs were tested for behavioral and neurochemical effects related to serotonergic function. Lergotrile and bromocriptine potentiated the so-called "5-HT syndrome", a set of behaviours associated with increased serotonergic neurotransmission consequent to monoamine oxidase inhibition and tryptophan loading. Metergoline antagonized this behavior. In studies of receptor binding using 3H-5-HT or 3H-LSD, metergoline was the most potent at displacing specific ligand binding. Since the ergots also affect dopaminergic function, these results are discussed for their information on both dopaminergic and serotonergic actions of these drugs and their implications for clinical use of ergots.

5-Hydroxytryptophan↗