Antihypertensive metabolites of alpha-methyldopa.
Article Details
- CitationCopy to clipboard
Robertson D, Tung CS, Goldberg MR, Hollister AS, Gerkens JF, Oates JA
Antihypertensive metabolites of alpha-methyldopa.
Hypertension. 1984 Sep-Oct;6(5 Pt 2):II45-50. doi: 10.1161/01.hyp.6.5_pt_2.ii45.
- PubMed ID
- 6094349 [ View in PubMed]
- Abstract
alpha-Methyldopa acts through a metabolite in the central nervous system. Of the three metabolites most prominently considered as potential mediators of alpha-methyldopa hypotension--alpha-methyldopamine, alpha-methylnorepinephrine (MNE), and alpha-methylepinephrine (ME)--ME is the most potent depressor agent following intravenous infusion into rats, following injection into the lateral ventricle, and following injection into the solitary tract nucleus (NTS). The depressor effect of ME in the NTS is attenuated as effectively by timolol as by yohimbine, while the combination of both timolol and yohimbine completely abolishes the pharmacological activity of ME in the NTS. ME is approximately eightfold more potent than MNE in the NTS and also has a greater susceptibility to timolol attenuation.
DrugBank Data that Cites this Article
- Drugs
- Drug Enzymes
Drug Enzyme Kind Organism Pharmacological Action Actions Methyldopa Dopamine beta-hydroxylase Protein Humans NoSubstrateDetails Methyldopa Phenylethanolamine N-methyltransferase Protein Humans NoSubstrateDetails - Drug Reactions
Reaction Details
