Can L-dopa be a precursor of m-octopamine in the cephalic ganglions of the locustLocusta migratoria L?

Unexpectedly, the administration of L-dopa, alone or after reserpine depletion of octopamine, results in an increase of octopamine in the cephalic ganglions ofLocusta migratoria L. This increase is exclusively due to m-octopamine and is correlated to dopamine and m-tyramine enhancement. This observation agrees with the basic idea of different biosynthetic pathways for p- and m-octopamine and indicates that unlike p-octopamine, m-octopamine synthesis is related to catecholic amine pathways.