Biogenic Aldehydes in Brain: Characteristics of a Reaction Between Rat Brain Tissue and Indole‐3‐Acetaldehyde

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Abstract
When indole‐3‐acetaldehyde was incubated with rat brain tissue, an aldehyde dehydrogenase‐independent irreversible disappearance of the aldehyde was found. This was accompanied by an increase in absorbance at 240–400 nm, with a peak at 310 nm. The results suggested that this change in absorbance was caused by a membrane‐bound nonenzymatic reaction between indole‐3‐acetaldehyde and phospholipids. A similar reaction occurred between indole‐3‐acetaldehyde and pure preparations of phosphatidylethanolamine and phosphatidylserine, but not phosphatidylcholine. Indole‐3‐acetaldehyde levels also decreased slightly when incubated with albumin but absorbance at 310 nm was unaltered. It is suggested that nonenzymatic reactions between indole‐3‐acetaldehyde (or other biogenic aldehydes) and membrane components might occur in vivo, and could be involved in the effects of drugs such as ethanol and barbiturates.