Short- and long-term effects of graduated doses of DL-6-OH-DOPA upon marsh mice

The lethal effects in Marsh mice for a range of DL-6-OH-DOPA levels were ascertained and exceeded those previously reported for 6-OH-DA under comparable conditions. The addition of vitamin "C" to the 6-OH-DOPA solution given intraperitoneally increased the lethal effect, as did the intraperitionel route of injection over that of the subcutaneous. Increased water consumption developed the fourth day for those surviving toxic levels of 6-OH-DOPA given subcutaneously as compared with controls. For all mice initially surviving administration of 6-OH-DOPA, tumorigenesis and long-term survival were of the same order as that of the controls. The toxicity of 6-OH-DOPA relating to ferric heme formation more likely involves metmyoglobin than methemoglobin. The combination of direct damage to sympathetic adrenergic cardiac innervation and metmyoglobin formation appears sufficient to account for the lethal effects of 6-OH-DOPA.