Studies on the stability of 3H-dopamine in neostriatal membrane preparations: effects of Ascorbic acid

The rate of 3H-dopamine decomposition was determined in buffers and in neostriatal membrane preparations that are commonly used in binding experiments. The rate of decomposition of 3H-dopamine was inhibited considerably by the membrane preparation and by ascorbic acid. Under conditions in which the binding of 3H-dopamine is routinely measured in neostriatal membrane preparations, there was almost no 3H-dopamine decomposition. The data would seem to suggest that the routine addition of very high concentrations of antioxidants is unnecessary when 3H-dopamine binding is being determined.