Effect of nicotinic acid on catecholamine synthesis in rat brain.

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Abstract
The effect of nicotinic acid on the formation of catecholamines was studied. Norepinephrine and dopamine concentrations in brain were 30% higher and brain catecholamine formation was 50% higher in the nicotinic acid-supplemented rats than the nicotinic acid-deficient rats. The catecholamine levels of the nicotinic acid-deficient rats were recovered by the administration of nicotinic acid. The concentration of brain tyrosine was unaltered after administration of nicotinic acid to the nicotinic acid-deficient rats. The changes in catecholamine formation by nicotinic acid supplementation were not due to the difference of tyrosine concentration in the brain, which is the precursor for catecholamine biosynthesis. As the difference of catecholamine concentration between the nicotinic deficient- and nicotinic acid-supplemented group was smaller than that of catecholamine formation of these groups, the turnover of catecholamine was supposed to be decreased in nicotinic acid deficiency.