Adrenaline oxidation

Harrison [44] observed the direct formation of a fluorescent product when adrenaline or noradrenaline was oxidised in the presence of Cu or Fe ions. Althou the identity of this fluorescent product was at first uncertain, it is probably the corresponding dihydroxyindoxyl derivative, adrenolutin (10) in the case of adrenaline oxidation or noradrenolutin (11) in the case of noradrenaline oxidation [45, 46]. Whisler concluded that the cyclisation of the catecholamine to the fluorescent product proceeds via the formation of a non-fluorescent intermediate [46]. 

In other experiments significant amounts of adrenaline oxidation products have been found in liver and in heart and skeletal muscle of mice after neutron and X-irradiation [100]. 

As mentioned above, for many preparations of adrenaline oxidation with a trace of iodine in solution buffered at pH 5 4 to 5 5 gives a satisfactory colorimetric assay. This can be applied to Compound Spray of Adrenaline and Atropine after removal of sulphur dioxide. 

On oxidation by potassium hexacyanoferrate(III) adrenaline is converted into adrenochrome which then condenses with ethylenediamine ... 

Ubiquitous mitochondrial monoamine oxidase [monoamine oxygen oxidoreductase (deaminating) (flavin-containing) EC 1.4.3.4 MAO] exists in two forms, namely type A and type B [ monoamine oxidase (MAO) A and B]. They are responsible for oxidative deamination of primary, secondary, and tertiary amines, including neurotransmitters, adrenaline, noradrenaline, dopamine (DA), and serotonin and vasoactive amines, such as tyramine and phenylethylamine. Their nonselec-tive and selective inhibitors ( selective MAO-A and -B inhibitors) are employed for the treatment of depressive illness and Parkinson s disease (PD). 

Chemical stability. Some medicaments undergo chemical change in aqueous soluhons. If the change is due to oxidation, a reducing agent such as sodium metabisulphite is included (e.g. Adrenaline Injection BP). 

In the preceding chapters, the synaptic pharmacology of those substances clearly established as NTs in the CNS, i.e. glutamate, GABA, ACh, NA, DA, 5-HT and certain peptides, has been discussed in some detail. There are other substances found in the CNS that could have a minor transmitter role, e.g. ATP, histamine and adrenaline, while still others that cannot claim such a property but clearly modify CNS function in some way, e.g. steroids, prostaglandins and nitric oxide. We will consider each of them in what we hope is appropriate detail. 

Various hydroxyl and amino derivatives of aromatic compounds are oxidized by peroxidases in the presence of hydrogen peroxide, yielding neutral or cation free radicals. Thus the phenacetin metabolites p-phenetidine (4-ethoxyaniline) and acetaminophen (TV-acetyl-p-aminophenol) were oxidized by LPO or HRP into the 4-ethoxyaniline cation radical and neutral V-acetyl-4-aminophenoxyl radical, respectively [198,199]. In both cases free radicals were detected by using fast-flow ESR spectroscopy. Catechols, Dopa methyl ester (dihydrox-yphenylalanine methyl ester), and 6-hydroxy-Dopa (trihydroxyphenylalanine) were oxidized by LPO mainly to o-semiquinone free radicals [200]. Another catechol derivative adrenaline (epinephrine) was oxidized into adrenochrome in the reaction catalyzed by HRP [201], This reaction can proceed in the absence of hydrogen peroxide and accompanied by oxygen consumption. It was proposed that the oxidation of adrenaline was mediated by superoxide. HRP and LPO catalyzed the oxidation of Trolox C (an analog of a-tocopherol) into phenoxyl radical [202]. The formation of phenoxyl radicals was monitored by ESR spectroscopy, and the rate constants for the reaction of Compounds II with Trolox C were determined (Table 22.1). 

The experimental observations were interpreted by assuming that the redox cycle starts with the formation of a complex between the catalyst and the substrate. This species undergoes intramolecular two-electron transfer and produces vanadium(II) and the quinone form of adrenaline. The organic intermediate rearranges into leucoadrenochrome which is oxidized to the final product also in a two-electron redox step. The +2 oxidation state of vanadium is stabilized by complex formation with the substrate. Subsequent reactions include the autoxidation of the V(II) complex to the product as well as the formation of aVOV4+ intermediate which is reoxidized to V02+ by dioxygen. These reactions also produce H2O2. The model also takes into account the rapidly established equilibria between different vanadium-substrate complexes which react with 02 at different rates. The concentration and pH dependencies of the reaction rate provided evidence for the formation of a V(C-RH)3 complex in which the formal oxidation state of vanadium is +4. 

Phenylephrine (27) is a low-potency sympathomimetic amine used as a decongestant. Solutions become coloured due to an auto-oxidation accelerated by light. In a series of experiments, aqueous solutions of the hydrochloride were left under a UV lamp until a tan colour developed. HPLC analysis showed four main products of which one was identified as adrenaline (19). Even after prolonged irradiation, there was never more than 2% adrenaline in the solution. It was assumed that the catecholamine was removed as it formed by further reaction to adrenochrome and melanine, which accounted for the colour [34],... 

In contrast, much is known about the catabolism of catecholamines. Adrenaline (epinephrine) released into the plasma to act as a classical hormone and noradrenaline (norepinephrine) from the parasympathetic nerves are substrates for two important enzymes monoamine oxidase (MAO) found in the mitochondria of sympathetic neurones and the more widely distributed catechol-O-methyl transferase (COMT). Noradrenaline (norepinephrine) undergoes re-uptake from the synaptic cleft by high-affrnity transporters and once within the neurone may be stored within vesicles for reuse or subjected to oxidative decarboxylation by MAO. Dopamine and serotonin are also substrates for MAO and are therefore catabolized in a similar fashion to adrenaline (epinephrine) and noradrenaline (norepinephrine), the final products being homo-vanillic acid (HVA) and 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid (5HIAA) respectively. 

Studies of the oxidation products of catecholamines (i.e., seretonin, dopamine, dopa, adrenaline, and noradrenaline) have indicated that protein oxidation by quinones may lead to apoptosis. Oxidation results in formation of orrto-quinones, which contribute to cytotoxicity and have been suggested... 

This group of enzymes catalyzes the oxidation of amines. Amine oxidase [EC 1.4.3.4], a flavin-containing enzyme (also known as monoamine oxidase, tyramine oxidase, tyraminase, or adrenalin oxidase) catalyzes the reaction of an organic amine R—CH2—NH2) with dioxygen... 

Adrenaline and noradrenaline are unstable in aqueous solution where they are subjected to spontaneous oxidation. In vivo this mechanism is only relevant under pathophysiological conditions of an catecholamine excess, since two enzymes, the catechol-O-methyltransferase (COMT) and the monoamineoxidase (MAO), inactivate physiological amounts of the transmitters. There are at least two subtypes of the enzyme MAO, A and B, which can be inhibited selectively for therapeutic purposes, for example by moclobemide and selegiline. 

The ion-exchange mechanism of exfracfion does nof occur only for amino acids. We observed if also for cafecholamines [26]. These compounds are efficiently extracted into ILs in the cationic form, af pH 1-8. Af fhese pH, the primary (dopamine) or secondary (adrenaline and dobutamine) amino groups are protonated (catecholamines are oxidized in alkaline solutions at pH > 8). By analogy with amino acids, extraction may be described by the cation-exchange reaction ... 

Adrenaline is synthesised in the adrenal medulla and at sympathetic nerve endings from phenylalanine and metabolised by oxidation (monoamine oxidase MAO) or conjugation (catechol 0-methyl transferase COMT). It is excreted in the urine as vanillylmandelic acid. Its main physiological effects are at pi and a adrenoceptors, with less marked effects at (P2... 

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