Showing papers by "Casa Sollievo della Sofferenza published in 1976"

In vivo and in vitro studies on the effect of tetrahydropapaveroline and salsolinol on COMT and MAO activity in rat brain.

Abstract: Studies were made on COMT and MAO activity in rats 2, 4, 6, 12 and 24 h after intraperitoneal treatment with 8 and 60 mg/kg doses of tetrahydropapaveroline (THP), and 10 and 20 days after treatment with 8 mg/kg/day. Results suggested COMT activity inhibition only after 2 h of treatment. Experiments were also performed on THP and salsolinol methylation capacity in vitro. Results showed that both alkaloids use COMT enzymes for methylation and can also act as competitive inhibitors of COMT and MAO activity.

Effects of tetrahydropapaveroline on dopamine and 5-hydroxytryptamine metabolism in rat brain in vivo.

Abstract: HVA and 5-HIAA levels have been assayed in the rat brain at different time intervals after acute or chronic i.p. administration of tetrahydropapaveroline (THP), 8 and 60 mg/kg. In addition, the influence of THP pretreatment on the L-dopa-induced HVA increase in the rat brain as well as the PCPA-induced 5-HIAA decrease have been studied. The results support the possibility that THP may displace brain monoamines in vivo. This property of THP may be related to certain side effects of L-dopa long-term therapy in parkinsonism.

The effect of desmethylimipramine on the absorption of alcohol and paracetamol.

Abstract: Many drugs can delay gastric emptying and may thereby impair the absorption of other drugs Desmethylimipramine (DMI) is an antidepressant with anticholinergic properties which might be expected to delay the rate of gastric emptying In five out of six subjects, DMI significantly delayed both the absorption of alcohol (assessed by a breathalyser) and of paracetamol, and there was a correlation between the two The breathalyser can therefore be used to predict the extent to which one may impair the absorption of another drug by its effect on gastrointestinal motility