Phenylethylamine N-methylation by human brain preparations

Journal Article · Tue Mar 04 23:00:00 EST 1986 · Fed. Proc., Fed. Am. Soc. Exp. Biol.; (United States)

OSTI ID:6898404

Mosnaim, A D; Callaghan, O H; Wolf, M E

Alterations in the brain metabolism of biogenic amines has been postulated to play a role in the pathophysiology of several psychiatric disorders. There is some evidence suggesting schizogenic properties for some abnormal neuroamine methylated derivatives. The authors now report that postmortem human brain preparations, obtained from the putamen and thalamus, convert phenylethylamine (PEA) to its behaviorally active derivative N-methyl PEA, a reaction which is carried out by the 100,000 xg supernatant (in presence of 1 x 10 /sup -5/M pargyline) and enhanced by the addition of NADPH. PEA N-methylation occurred in schizophrenics as well as in sex and age matched controls. The formation of increased amounts of (/sup 3/H-) or (/sup 14/C-) N-methyl PEA when incubating either cold amine and /sup 3/H-SAM or 1-/sup 14/C PEA and cold SAM, respectively, indicates that SAM is a methyl group donor in this reaction. They will discuss the physiological and pharmacological implications of these results.

• Research Organization: Univ. of Health Sciences/Chicago Medical School, IL
• OSTI ID: 6898404
• Report Number(s): CONF-8604222-
• Journal Information: Fed. Proc., Fed. Am. Soc. Exp. Biol.; (United States), Journal Name: Fed. Proc., Fed. Am. Soc. Exp. Biol.; (United States) Vol. 45:4; ISSN FEPRA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

550501* -- Metabolism-- Tracer Techniques
550901 -- Pathology-- Tracer Techniques
59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
AMINES
ANIMALS
BODY
BRAIN
CARBON 14 COMPOUNDS
CENTRAL NERVOUS SYSTEM
COENZYMES
DISEASES
ISOTOPE APPLICATIONS
LABELLED COMPOUNDS
MAMMALS
MAN
METABOLISM
NADP
NERVOUS SYSTEM
NERVOUS SYSTEM DISEASES
NUCLEOTIDES
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
ORGANS
PATHOGENESIS
PHYSIOLOGY
PRIMATES
TRACER TECHNIQUES
TRITIUM COMPOUNDS
VERTEBRATES