Description
L-DOPA (Item No. 13248,1421-65-4) is a metabolic precursor of dopamine that is capable of crossing the blood brain barrier to act as a dopamine D
1 receptor agonist. It is produced from L-tyrosine by trysosine hydroxylase. In the brain, L-DOPA is converted to dopamine by the enzyme aromatic L-amino acid decarboxylase. It is conventionally used to increase dopamine concentrations in the brain as a treatment for Parkinson’s disease and stroke recovery.
1 L-DOPA methyl ester is a neutral derivative of L-DOPA formulated for increased solubility compared to the parent compound.
2
Biochem/physiol Actions
L-3,4-Dihydroxyphenylalanine methyl ester(1421-65-4) is a precursor to?L-DOPA that crosses the blood-brain barrier. Antiparkinsonian agent L-DOPA methyl ester elicits antitumor functionality in leukemia and melanoma.
in vivo
on intraperitoneal or subcutaneous administration to mice l-dopa methyl ester was found to be equivalent to l-dopa in reversing reserpine-induced akinesia and producing contraversive circling behaviour in rats. on oral administration the methyl ester was even more active. the administration of l-dopa or the methyl ester had equivalent changes of metabolite levels in striatal and mesolimbic dopamine, homovanillic acid, as well as 3,4-dihydroxyphenylacetic acid [2].
References
[1] berends, h. i.,nijlant, j.m.m.,movig, k.l.l., et al. the clinical use of drugs influencing neurotransmitters in the brain to promote motor recovery after stroke; a cochrane systematic review. european journal of physical and rehabilitation medicine 45(4), 621-630 (2009).
[2] cooper dr, marrel c, testa b, van de waterbeemd h, quinn n, jenner p, marsden cd. l-dopa methyl ester--a candidate for chronic systemic delivery of l-dopa in parkinson's disease. clin neuropharmacol. 1984;7(1):89-98.
[3] kleedorfer, b. ,lees, a.j. and stern, g.m. subcutaneous and sublingual levodopa methyl ester in parkinson’s disease. j.neurol.neurosurg.psychiatry 54(4), 373 (1991).
