Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 16, 2026

Assessment of Dopaminergic Homeostasis in Mice by Use of High-performance Liquid Chromatography Analysis and Synaptosomal Dopamine Uptake
Published on: September 21, 2017
Dopamine metabolism in red blood cells in schizophrenia
Abstract:
A method was developed for the separation by thin-layer chromatography of 14C-labelled 3-methoxy, 4-hydroxyphenethylamine, 3-hydroxy, 4-methoxyphenethylamine and 3,4-dimethoxyphenethylamine (DMPEA) after incubation of dopamine with catechol-O-methyltransferase (COMT) in lysates of human red blood cells (RBC). 14 C-methyl-S-adenosyl-menthionine was used as the methyl donor. Total COMT activity with noradrenaline or dopamine as substrates, respectively, and the pattern of 14C-methylated metabolites of dopamine were measured in RBC of 47 schizophrenic patients and in 34 control subjects. There were no differences between patients and controls. DMPEA was not formed by RBC in schizophrenic patients (or in controls), a finding which argues against the "pnk spot"/DMPEA hypothesis of schizophrenia. The methods used seem suitable for studies of other human disorders where COMT might be involved.
More Related Videos
07:25Identification of Dopamine D1-Alpha Receptor Within Rodent Nucleus Accumbens by an Innovative RNA In Situ Detection Technology
Published on: March 27, 2018
05:14Standardized Data Acquisition for Neuromelanin-Sensitive Magnetic Resonance Imaging of the Substantia Nigra
Published on: September 8, 2021
Related Concept Videos
Drugs Affecting Neurotransmitter Synthesis
Psychosis: Pathophysiology of Schizophrenia and Other Psychotic Disorders
Researchers have identified genetic factors that increase susceptibility to schizophrenia, underscoring the intricate interplay between genetics and environment in disease development. At the core of schizophrenia's pathophysiology is excessive dopaminergic neurotransmission within the...
Parkinson's Disease: Treatment
Parkinson's Disease is primarily a result of the loss of dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra pars compacta. The cornerstone of its...
Biological Causes of Schizophrenia
Genetic Factors in Schizophrenia
The genetic basis of schizophrenia is strongly supported by family and twin studies.
Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder
Diagnostic Criteria and Symptoms
To diagnose ADHD, symptoms must manifest before age 12 and be evident across multiple settings.
Parkinson Disease ll: Pathophysiology