Effect of Reserpine on the Storage of Catechol Amines in Brain and Other Tissues

Abstract

Bertler Å. Effect of reserpine on the storage of catechol amines in brain and other tissues. The effect of reserpine on the metabolism of dopamine and noradrenaline in tissues has been studied. Dopamine was found to be depleted from the brain at a higher rate than noradrenaline; dopamine decreased to 50 per cent of the normal level in 15 min while the corresponding time interval for noradrenaline was 45 min. The dopamine in the peripheral tissues of the sheep was found to be only slightly lowered within 13 hours, after administration of 2 and 4 mg reserpine per kg whereas the dopamine of the brains were reduced to insignificant amounts. In this respect it behaved in the same way as 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT). The rate of disappearance of catechol amines after reserpine is suggested to be dependent on the rate of turnover of the amines. The principal effect of reserpine on the tissue catechol amines and 5-HT is supposed to be due to an interaction of the active transport of the amines into the storage sites. The results of the investigation indicate that the drug does not interfere with the decarboxylation of dihydroxyphenylalanine and 5-hydroxytryptophan.