CONVERSION OF TYROSINE TO CATECHOLAMINES BY RAT BRAIN SLICES

Abstract
Evidence is presented for the enzymatic conversion of tyrosine to DOPA and the catecholamines by rat brain slices in vitro. Conversion is favored by ATP and TPNH and inhibited by pyridoxal phosphate. The conversion is very much less than that found under comparable conditions with rat adrenal medulla slices and also differs in that, in brain slices, there is a greater increase in DOPA than in dopamine or noradrenaline.