Levels of Catechols in Epileptogenic and Nonepileptogenic Regions of the Human Brain

Abstract
Recent reports about tyrosine hydroxylase and .alpha.1-adrenoceptors in epileptic foci have suggested increased regional catecholaminergic activity, which may serve a compensatory, inhibitory role. We measured levels of catechols, including the precursor 3,4-dihydroxyphenylalanine (DOPA) and the catecholamines dopamine (DA) and norepinephrine (NE), in surgically removed foci identified by electrocorticography and in nonepileptogenic sites from 23 patients with intractable temporal lobe epilepsy. The following values (mean .+-. 1 SD) were obtained: DOPA = 142 .+-. 60 ng/g of protein in the focus vs. 115 .+-. 39 ng/g in the nonfocus (p < 0.01); DA = 168 .+-. 85 vs. 106 .+-. 54 ng/g (p < 0.001); and NE = 267 .+-. 117 vs. 181 .+-. 80 ng/g (p < 0.001). The results are consistent with increased catecholaminergic activity in epileptic foci.