THE EXTRA-ADRENAL SYNTHESIS OF EPINEPHRINE IN RATS - POSSIBLE INVOLVEMENT OF DOPAMINE SULFATE

  • 1 January 1981
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 98  (4) , 527-535
Abstract
Bilaterally adrenalectomized rats were administered [3H]L-dopa, [3H]DA [dopamine] and [3H] DASO4 [dopamine sulfate]. Both [3H]L-dopa and [3H]DASO4 generated [3H]E [epinephrine] in the urine and kidney [dopamine sulfate] tissues of adrenalectomized rats, whereas [3H]DA did not produce any detectable [3H]E. [3H]CA [catecholamine] in tissues and urine were analyzed by reverse-phase high-performance liquid chromatography. The identities of the [3H]CA in the urine were further verified by a double-labeling radioenzymatic technique. In the rat E can be synthesized outside the adrenals and DASO4 can serve as an intermediate in such a synthesis. [3H]DASO4 was also converted to [3H]DA and [3H]norepinephrine, indicating that it can be metabolized in vivo and could be the source of free DA in urine.