VMA in spinal fluid: evaluation of the pathways of cerebral catecholamine metabolism in man

Evaluation of cerebral catecholamine metabolism in man is best achieved by study of the metabolites of the catechlamines in cerebrospinal fluid, and the occurrence of homovanillic acid, and MHPG in CSF has been documented, and these metabolites can be accurately quantitated.

Abstract

Publisher Summary This chapter elaborates the evaluation of the pathways of cerebral catecholamine metabolism in man. The pathways of cerebral catecholamine metabolism have been evaluated in animals by application of radioisotopic techniques. These studies involved incubation of brain slices with labeled norepinephrine (NE), dopamine and their precursors or intraventricular or intracisternal administration of these compounds. The studies have indicated that dopamine is preferentially metabolized to the acids, homovanillic acid, and dihydroxyphenylacetic acid, whereas norepinephrine is preferentially metabolized to the alcohols, 3-methoxy-4-hydroxyphenylethylene glycol, and dihydroxyphenylglycol, and because of the inaccessibility of the human brain to direct study, similar information for man is lacking. Evaluation of cerebral catecholamine metabolism in man is best achieved by study of the metabolites of the catecholamines in cerebrospinal fluid. The occurrence of homovanillic acid, and MHPG in CSF has been documented, and these metabolites can be accurately quantitated.