Dopa uptake and catecholamine content in heart and spleen

Abstract

dl-Dopa has been infused in mongrel dogs under various conditions in order to study its uptake and its influence on the storage of norepinephrine and epinephrine in the heart and spleen. Catecholamines and dopa were estimated with the trihydroxyindole method after separation with Amberlite. No increase in norepinephrine and epinephrine content in the heart and spleen could be detected after dopa infusion. Apparently, the rate of conversion of dopa into norepinephrine does not depend on the supply of the substrate.