Similarities between Neurologic Effects of L-Dopa and of Apomorphine
- 1 January 1970
- journal article
- clinical trial
- Published by Massachusetts Medical Society in New England Journal of Medicine
- Vol. 282 (1), 31-33
- https://doi.org/10.1056/nejm197001012820107
Abstract
L-DOPA is a precursor for the biosynthesis of both melanins and catecholamines. Both groups of substances are diminished within the Parkinsonian brain.1 2 3 L-dopa administration might therefore increase both melanins and catecholamines.4 The side effects of L-dopa were assigned to dopamine instead of melanin5 because they paralleled the effects of apomorphine, which has chemical similarities to dopamine6 and activates dopaminergic receptors in laboratory animals.6 7 8 The therapeutic effects of L-dopa might also be assigned to dopamine if they could be duplicated by apomorphine.4 , 9 , 10 We have found that subcutaneous administration of apomorphine to patients with selected neurologic disorders has temporarily changed the neurologic . . .Keywords
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