METABOLISM OF NOREPINEPHRINE IN RAT TISSUE HOMOGENATES

Abstract : In this study, tissue homogenates served as convenient systems in which to investigate the metabolism of norepinephrine. Iproniazid was found to delay the disappearance of norepine phrine from rat brain homogenate. The effect became significant after 4 hours of incubation. High concentrations of magnesium (1.2 x 10 to the -2 M) counteracted this effect of iproniazid. Large doses of magnesium, however, did not affect the increased brain norepinephrine level produced by iproniazid in rats. Oxalate, 3.2 x 10 to the -2 M, did not inhibit the decay of norepinephrine in rat brain homogenates, but in one experiment it enhanced the effect of iproniazid in this system. In a limited number of experiments, both iproniazid and oxalate delayed the disappearance of norepinephrom rat heart homogenate.