Effects of prolonged disulfiram treatment on plasma dopamine-beta-hydroxylase activity in rhesus monkeys.

Abstract
To examine the effects of disulfiram (DS) on plasma dopamine-.beta.-hydroxylase (DBH), male adult rhesus monkeys were injected daily with 150 or 300 mg DS/kg body wt. Plasma and CSF were collected before, at 4 and 6 wk during, and at 4 and 7 wk and 6 mo. after DS treatment. DBH activity, measured by a radioenzymatic method, was increased by 74% in plasma after 6 wk on DS. Seven weeks after DS treatment ended, plasma DBH remained 30% higher than baseline values. DBH activity in CSF remained relatively constant throughout. These findings are discussed in light of previous work showing increased serum norepinephrine and blood pressure in [human] alcoholics taking DS daily.

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