Long-term retention of neurotoxic beta-carbolines in brain neuromelanin
Author
Summary, in English
beta-Carbolines show structural resemblance to the neurotoxic N-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine and are metabolized to mitochondrial toxicants. Humans are continuously exposed to low levels of beta-carbolines through cooked food, coffee, alcoholic beverages and tobacco smoke. beta-Carbolines have previously been detected in higher levels in the pigmented substantia nigra than in the cortex of humans. The distribution of H-3-labelled harman and norharman in the brain of pigmented and albino mice and in frogs (a species having neuromelanin) was studied by tape-section and light-microscopic autoradiography. Furthermore, the binding of these beta-carbolines to dopamine-melanin and melanin granules from Sepia officinalis was examined. The results revealed a high affinity binding to melanin and a long-term retention (up to 30 days) in pigmented tissues, including neuromelanin-containing neurons of frogs after a single injection. The role of long-term exposure to food-related beta-carbolines and a retention of these compounds in pigment-containing neurons in the induction of idiopathic Parkinson's disease should be further considered.
Department/s
Publishing year
2004
Language
English
Pages
141-157
Publication/Series
Journal of Neural Transmission
Volume
111
Issue
2
Document type
Journal article
Publisher
Springer
Topic
- Neurology
Keywords
- b-Carbolines
- parkinsonism
- neuromelanin
- harman
- norharman
- Parkinson’s disease
- dopamine–melanin
- Sepia officinalis
Status
Published
ISBN/ISSN/Other
- ISSN: 0300-9564