Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
. 1987;70(3-4):233-40.
doi: 10.1007/BF01253600.

Potentiation of central effects of L-dopa by an inhibitor of catechol-O-methyltransferase

J Nuutila  1 , S Kaakkola, P T Männistö
Affiliations

Potentiation of central effects of L-dopa by an inhibitor of catechol-O-methyltransferase

J Nuutila et al. J Neural Transm. 1987.

Abstract

The effects of a COMT-inhibitor, U-0521, and a MAO-B-inhibitor, 1-deprenyl, on L-dopa-induced circling behaviour were compared in 6-OHDA-lesioned rats. The actions of U-0521 and 1-deprenyl on the anti-cataleptic effect of L-dopa were also studied. Both U-0521 and 1-deprenyl were found to potentiate L-dopa-induced circling behaviour and anti-cataleptic effect of L-dopa. In both test systems the L-dopa potentiation of 1-deprenyl was longer-lasting than that caused by U-0521. Thus inhibition of COMT, like inhibition of MAO, is able to enhance the central effects of L-dopa. This principle might be beneficial in the treatment of Parkinson's disease especially if COMT-inhibitors with greater performance can be developed.

PubMed Disclaimer

References

    1. J Pharmacol Exp Ther. 1974 Jun;189(3):733-40 - PubMed
    1. Nature. 1977 Jan 6;265(5589):80-1 - PubMed
    1. Biochem Pharmacol. 1982 Nov 1;31(21):3415-8 - PubMed
    1. Naunyn Schmiedebergs Arch Pharmacol. 1982 Jul;320(1):34-7 - PubMed
    1. Pharmacol Biochem Behav. 1981 Jul;15(1):75-9 - PubMed

LinkOut - more resources