Migration of tetrahydroisoquinoline, a possible parkinsonian neurotoxin, into monkey brain from blood as proved by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry.

Abstract

1,2,3,4-Tetrahydroisoquinoline (TIQ) was quantitated by use of gas chromatography-mass spectrometry in brains and livers of marmosets which showed parkinsonism after daily subcutaneous injection of TIQ. TIQ showed greatly increased levels in the brains and livers of the TIQ-treated marmosets, with no detectable metabolites of TIQ. TIQ was present as an endogenous amine in the brains and livers of saline-treated marmosets at very low concentrations. It thus seems that TIQ can pass easily through the blood-brain barrier but cannot be metabolized in the brain or the liver. It is possible that TIQ accumulated in the brain may produce parkinsonism.

• Authors: T Niwa, N Takeda, A Tatematsu, S Matsuura, M Yoshida, T Nagatsu
• Journal: Journal of chromatography (J Chromatogr) Vol. 452 Pg. 85-91 (Oct 28 1988) Netherlands
• PMID: 3149649 (Publication Type: Journal Article)

Chemical References

• Isoquinolines
• Neurotoxins
• Tetrahydroisoquinolines
• 1,2,3,4-tetrahydroisoquinoline

Topics

• Animals
• Brain Chemistry
• Callitrichinae
• Female
• Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry
• Isoquinolines (analysis, blood, metabolism)
• Liver (analysis, metabolism)
• Male
• Neurotoxins (analysis, metabolism)
• Parkinson Disease, Secondary (chemically induced)
• Tetrahydroisoquinolines