Attempts at inhibition of autooxidation of catecholamines in vitro

The authors attempted to inhibit autooxidation of catecholamines in vitro by means of sulphur-containing amino-acids, monosaccharides, and aminobutyric acids. The SH group-containing amino-acids were found to suppress autooxidation of catecholamines passing from a chloroform-methanol solution (2:1) to water or buffer solutions. A similar though less pronounced property was manifested by cysteic acid. Likewise glucose, fructose and galactose blocked the reaction. Among aminobutyric acids only gamma-aminobutyric acid inhibited autooxidation of amines. However, despite positive results obtained, these experiments cannot be utilized in studies on reduction of Nitro-BT, as no reduction of Nitro-BT occured in the solutions in which catecholamine autooxidation was brought to a stop.