Elnora Van Winkle

NEW DEVELOPMENTS IN THE INVESTIGATION OF THE RELATIONSHIP OF 3,4-DIMETHOXYPHENYLETHYLAMINE TO SCHIZOPHRENIA

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses the relationship of 3, 4-dimethoxyphenylethylamine (DMPEA) to schizophrenia. Several studies have been carried out that may demonstrate a relationship between methylation and schizophrenia. It has been demonstrated that the ingestion of methionine results in an exacerbation of symptoms of schizophrenic patients. It is of considerable interest that methionine is the precursor of the methyl donor in the methylations, although it is not known that feeding excess methionine can in fact increase the rate of formation of DMPEA. DMPEA has been shown to have marked effects on the central nervous system of animals. The effects are similar to those occasioned by mescaline administration and include the production of catatonia in cats and mice. To investigate the possibility that DMPEA found in urine from schizophrenic patients was not, in fact, related to schizophrenia, factors such as diet, activity, intestinal flora, drug ingestion, toothpaste, and smoking are considered.

β-Hydroxylation of N-acetyl-3,4-dimethoxyphenethylamine and the influence of iproniazid on the demethylation of this compound in vivo in the rat

Abstract N -acetyl- β -hydroxy-3,4-dimethoxyphenethylamine was found in the urine of rats after intraperitoneal administration of either 3,4-dimethoxyphenethylamine or N -acetyl-3,4-dimethoxyphenethylamine. Identification was made from Chromatographic, cocrystallization and mass spectral data. The monoamine oxidase inhibitor, iproniazid, was found to diminish the extent of demethylation of N -acetyl-3,4-dimethoxyphenethylamine in vivo by 17 per cent.