[Tissue concentrations of biogenic amines in brain tumors and their distribution]

In recent years, considerable interest has been directed towards the role of neurotransmitters in various types of brain dysfunctions. There are increasing experimental and clinical evidences that disturbances in the metabolism of central monoamine play an important role in the pathogenesis of brain diseases. Brain tumors are thought to affect and change the neurotransmitter function of the surrounding cerebral tissues. In this study, we tried to analyze and accumulate data about tissue concentrations of biogenic amines in brain tumors and their distribution. Samples from thirty-four intracranial tumors removed at operations were studied. The concentrations in tumor tissues were measured by high performance liquid chromatography systems which were equipped with electrochemical detection (LCEC) and were particularly well suited for the separation and the measurement of the concentration of norepinephrine (NE), dopamine (DA), 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT), and their metabolites; homovanillic acid (HVA), 5-hydroxyindolacetic acid (5-HIAA) and 3-methyoxy-4-hydroxyphenylethyleneglycol (MHPG) in brain tissues. NE levels were under 3ng/g in twenty-five of thirty cases. DA levels were not detected in more than half of the cases. 5-HT levels varied from 0 ng/g to 166.4 ng/g. HVA levels were detected in one glioblastoma, one metastatic tumor, one meningioma and one hemangioblastoma. 5HIAA levels were not detected in most cases except for two meningiomas and one malignant lymphoma. Distribution of tissue concentrations of biogenic amines and their metabolites in four demarcated brain tumors was studied. Samples for determination of tissue concentrations were taken from tumor tissue at central, middle, and peripheral or adjacent portion from the edge of tumor.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)