Histochemical and chronobiological studies on uptake of L-DOPA by granulocytes--its promotion and suppression

The uptake capacity of granulocytes for L-DOPA was investigated from the aspect of histochemistry and chronobiology. For a histochemical research, modified FALCK-HILLARP method for catecholamine, CORRODI's test for identification of L-DOPA and an electron microscopical survey of glycogen particles were carried out. For a chronobiological research, daily and seasonal changes in the uptake of L-DOPA by granulocytes were examined with blood smear method of the authors. From this experiment, following points became clear; 1. The uptake capacity of granulocytes for L-DOPA varies with a clock-time and a season judging from fluorescent intensity and tincture of granulocytes. 2. The uptake capacity of granulocytes for L-DOPA was suppressed by major tranquilizers especially haloperidol, and by lithium carbonate, while the uptake was enhanced by prednisolone, dexamethasone, MK-486, and dibutyryl cyclic AMP. 3. The electron opacity of glycogen particles in granulocytes weakened significantly after the administration of L-DOPA. Isoproterenol had also a similar effect, but the effect of the former was superior to that of the latter under the authors' conditions. Haloperidol inhibited strongly the decrease of glycogen caused by L-DOPA. 4. DOPAmine was hardly uptaken by granulocytes in general. Glycogen in granulocytes did not show a marked decrease after the administration of DOPAmine. 5. From the evidence mentioned above, glycogen content in granulocytes was assumed to be closely associated with the uptake of monoamine by granulocytes.