Metabolism of Epinephrine and Other Sympathomimetic Amines

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Abstract
Routes for the metabolism of catecholamines in vivo have been established the past few years. The major pathway for the metabolism of epinephrine and norepinephrine involves O-methylation to yield metanephrine and normetanephrine. These physiologically inactive metabolites are then conjugated or deaminated to 3-methoxy-4-hydroxymandelic acid. A considerable body of evidence has accumulated indicating that monoamine oxidase is mainly concerned with the deamination of the O-methylated metabolites, rather than the catecholamines themselves. An enzyme, catechol-O-methyl transferase, catalyzes the O-methylation of epinephrine, norepinephrine and other normally occurring catechols. This enzyme is widely distributed in most organs and tissues, including the autonomic and central nervous system. Catechol-O-methyl transferase is chiefly concerned in the metabolism of circulations epinephrine and norepinephrine, but its role in the inactivation of endogenously released catecholamines remains to be established. Sympathomimetic phenylethylamines, phenylisopropylamines and indolamines are metabolized by a variety of pathways, including deamination, N- and O-demethylation, hydroxylation and conjugation.

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