Stephen, Yes I know this very well, the same problems are in autism, the
serotonin is high in the plalets, but not in the brain. For reasons that
would take too long to explain. There is that matter of crossing the BBB.
I think these guys are getting closer to pin-pointing where the problem
originates, at least this is how it looks from where I am sitting. Whenever
I cross information that may bring us closer understanding, I send it.
What I send will not be the "cure", but wouldn't that be nice! <smile>
Best Wishes Linda Forrest's Mom
>>>> Forrest's Mom <[log in to unmask]> 06/04/97
>04:37am >>>
>>>>Nicotinic cholinergic regulation of tyrosine hydroxylase
>gene expression and catecholamine synthesis in isolated
>bovine adrenal chromaffin cells.
>Craviso, GL; Hemelt, VB and Waymire, JC
>J Neurochem. 59: 2285-96 (1992)<<<
><<<Generation of Reactive Oxygen Species by Tyrosine
>Hydroxylase: A Possible Contribution to the Degeneration of
>Dopaminergic Neurons?
>Jan Haavik, Dept. of Biochemistry, Univ of Bergen, Norway
>6/4/97 4:24 am>>>
><<<Scientific American, June 97. Gene Therapy
>6/4/97 12:59 am>>>
>Linda -
> Your three posts of 6/4/97 re: tyrosine suggest that adding
>the enzyme tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) to a patient's
>medication could create larger amounts of dopamine in the
>brain.
> TH is a catalyst which promotes a chemical change in the
>amino acid, Tyrosine [C9-H11-NO3]. Tyrosine is found in
>high protein foods such as fish, nuts and meat. Tyrosine
>helps the transformation to L-Dopa which changes into
>dopamine.
> However, whether this chemical reaction is taking place in
>the adrenal gland (leading to adrenaline) or in the brain where
>the reaction creates dopamine, the biosynthesis is
>rate-limited by the enzyme TH. Hence, the ingestion of large
>quantities of protein in a person's diet does not usually lead
>to the production of adrenaline.
> Since L-Dopa (an amino acid) is not rate-limited, the
>treatment of giving patients L-Dopa (levodopa) was devised
>as a way to increase the amount of dopamine formed in the
>brain.
>Stephan 52/6
