Effects of brain monoamine depletions on thermoregulation in rabbits.

Biochemical analyses revealed that 5,7-dihydroxytryptamine- (5,7-DHT) treated and 6-hydroxydopamine- (6-OHDA) treated rabbits, respectively, had a significant reduction in diencephalic 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) and norepinephrine (NE) with minimal alterations in the other monoamines. Both 5,7-DHT-treated and 6-OHDA-treated animals, although showing the maintenance of normal body temperatures, did exhibit specific alterations in the thermoeffector outputs. The 5-HT-depleted animals displayed an increase in ear skin blood flow, respiratory heat loss, and metabolism at both ambient temperatures (Ta) of 22 and 2 degrees C. The NE-depleted animals displayed a decrease in metabolism at all levels of Ta tested. Also, the peripheral temperature threshold for the onset of heat loss responses were displaced to higher values than in control animals. In addition, the prostaglandin E1-induced fever was attenuated after the pretreatment of rabbits with either 5,7-DHT or 6-OHDA. The data indicate that brain levels of 5-HT and NE alter, in an apparently reciprocal fashion, the thermoregulatory responses of rabbits. Also, the integrity of 5-HT and NE pathways in brain is vital for the full functioning of a prostaglandin in producing a fever.

Chemical and biological studies of 1-(2,5-dihydroxy-4-methylphenyl)-2-aminopropane, an analogue of 6-hydroxydopamine.

Autoxidation of the bis(O-demethyl)-p-hydroquinone metabolite of the psychotomimetic amine 1-(2,5-dimethoxy-4-methylphenyl)-2-aminopropane (DOM) at pH 7.4 leads exclusively to a bicyclic imino quinone. This imino quinone is a good alkylating agent, forming covalent adducts via 1,4 addition to thiols. The autoxidation appears to be dependent on trace metal catalysis and is dramatically inhibited by components of the 10000g supernatant fraction of rabbit liver homogenates. Incubation of tritium-labeled hydroquinone with bovine serum albumin under oxidizing conditions leads to significant amounts of nonextractable radioactivity which presumably is dependent on imino quinone alkylation of nucleophilic functionalities present on macromolecules. Incubation of tritium-labeled DOM with rabbit microsomes in the presence of NADPH leads to irreversible binding of the label to macromolecular components of the microsomes. Since this binding is NADPH dependent, it is likely that metabolic conversion of DOM to the hydroquinone is involved. The imino quinone oxidation product is highly lypophilic and is capable of crossing the blood-brain barrier. Intravenous administration of tritium-labeled imino quinone to rats resulted in significant nonextractable radioactivity in brain tissue. These properties of the hydroquinone metabolite parallel those reported for the structurally related sympatholytic compound 6-hydroxydopamine and have led to the hypothesis that the psychotomimetic properties of DOM may be mediated through 6-hydroxydopamine-type interactions of the hydroquinone with important macromolecules in the brain.

Catechol O-methyltransferase. 9. Mechanism of inactivation by 6-hydroxydopamine.

A series of methylated analogues of 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA) has been synthesized and evaluated as irreversible inhibitors of catechol O-methyltransferase (COMT). These analogues have been prepared in an effort to elucidate the mechanism involved in the inactivation of this enzyme by 6-OHDA. The analogues prepared had methyl groups incorporated in the 2 and/or 5 positions of 6-OHDA so as to block nucleophilic attakc at these positions in the corresponding oxidation products [6-hydroxydopamine-p-quinone (6-OHDAQ), aminochromes I and II]. Such 2- and/or 5-methylated 6-OHDA analogues were found to be inhibitors of COMT with the inactivation apparently resulting from modification of an essential amino acid residue at the active site of the enzyme. The activity of these analogues as inhibitors of COMT argues against a mechanism involving a 1,4 Michael addition reaction by a protein nucleophile at the 2 or 5 positions on 6-OHDAQ or on the corresponding aminochromes. Instead, an alternative mechanism is proposed to explain these data, which involves attack of a protein nucleophile at the carbonyl group in the 6 position of 6-OHDAQ or at the imine functionality on aminochromes I and II. The results of the present experiments have provided insight into the mechanism involved in inactivation of COMT by 6-OHDA. In addition, this study has provided considerable insight into the chemical reactivity of the electrophilic species generated after oxidation of 6-OHDA.

Metabolic O-demethylation of the psychotomimetic amine 1-(2, 5-dimetroxy-4-methylphenyl)-2-aminopropane.

In an effort to more fully characterize the metabolic fate of the psychotomimetic amine (1-(2, 5-dimethoxy-4-methylpheny.)-2-aminopropane (DOM, STP), the formation of the two possible monophenols and the p-hydroquinone metabolites of the parent drug by 10,000 X g supernatent fractions of rabbit liver homogenates has been investigated. All three metabolites have been fully characterized and quantitatively estimated by chemical ionization mass spectrometry with the aid of deuterium enriched compounds. The stereochemical course of the mono-O-demethylation reactions has been shown to proceed with enantiomeric enrichment of the S-aminophenols. The mechanistic implications concerning the mode of action of the parent drug and metabolic O-demethylation are discussed.