Norepinephrine and its metabolites are involved in the synthesis of neuromelanin derived from the locus coeruleus.

ABSTRACT: In order to elucidate the chemical structure of black to brown pigments, neuromelanins (NMs), in the substantia nigra (SN) and the locus coeruleus (LC) in the central nervous system of humans and other mammalian species during aging, chemical degradative methods are powerful tools. HPLC analysis after hydroiodic acid hydrolysis detected aminohydroxyphenylethylamines, aminohydroxyphenylacetic acids, and aminohydroxyethylbenzenes, which confirmed that SN-NM and LC-NM contain melanin derived not only from dopamine and norepinephrine (NE) but also from several other catecholic metabolites, such as 3,4-dihydroxyphenylalanine, 3,4-dihydroxyphenylacetic acid, 3,4-dihydroxymandelic acid, 3,4-dihydroxyphenylethanol, and 3,4-dihydroxyphenylethylene glycol, in addition to the corresponding Cys-deriva

SUBMITTER: Wakamatsu K 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5014224 | biostudies-literature | 2015 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature