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Pyrocatechol Amine (Catecholamine) Metabolism and Effects of Electroconvulsive Therapy

Pyrocatechol Amine (Catecholamine) Metabolism and Effects of Electroconvulsive Therapy Abstract A number of theories purport to refer the etiology of psychoses to a disturbance in the metabolism of the sympathetic neurohumors1,2 or to an alteration in the functional activity of the sympathoadrenal system.3,4 Similarly, some of the explanations advanced to clarify the role of electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) utilize the same frame of reference.5 Such hypotheses ought to be verifiable directly by the investigation of the metabolism of pyrocatechol amines (catechol amines) in psychiatric patients. The release of pyrocatechol amines at sympathetic postganglionic nerve endings and from the adrenal medulla is well known,6 of course; but very little is understood about this release as it occurs after electrically induced convulsions. The finding by Weil-Malherbe5 of an elevated plasma epinephrine following ECT has provided more direct evidence of sympathetic involvement than had previously been available in man. Pekkarinen et al.7 have reported that administration of electroshock References 1. Sourkes, T. L.: Some Current Biochemical Theories of Psychosis , Canad. Psychiat. A. J . 1:73, 1956. 2. Garb, S.; Tiwari, N. M., and Chapman, L. F.: Some Hypotheses Concerning the Role of Sympathomimetic Amines in Psychiatric Conditions , Am. J. Psychiat . 113:740, 1957. 3. Kalinowsky, L. B., and Hoch, P. H.: Shock Treatments, Psychosurgery and Other Somatic Treatments in Psychiatry , Ed. 2, New York, Grune & Stratton, Inc., 1952. 4. Gellhorn, E.: Physiological Foundations of Neurology and Psychiatry , Minneapolis, University of Minnesota Press, 1953. 5. Weil-Malherbe, H.: The Effect of Convulsive Therapy on Plasma Adrenaline and Noradrenaline , J. Ment. Sc . 101:156, 1955. 6. von Euler-Chelpin, U. S.: Noradremaline , Springfield, Ill., Charles C Thomas, Publishers, 1956. 7. Pekkarinen, A.; Hakala, H., and Hyppönen, K.: On the Effects of Electric Shock on the Adrenals of the Rabbit , Acta endocrinol . 10:167, 1952. 8. Sourkes, T. L.; Sloane, R. B., and Drujan, B. D.: Effects of Electroshock on the Metabolism of Catecholamines , paper read at the 40th Annual Meeting of the Chemical Institute of Canada, Vancouver, B. C., Canada, June 1-6, 1957. 9. Sourkes, T. L., and Drujan, B. D.: A Routine Procedure for the Determination of Catecholamines in Urine and Tissues , Canad. J. Biochem. Physiol ., to be published. 10. von Euler, U. S., and Orwen, I.: Preparation of Extracts of Urine and Organs for Estimation of Free and Conjugated Noradrenaline and Adrenaline , Acta physiol. scandinav . ( (Supp. 118) ) 33:1, 1955.Crossref 11. Lund, A. L.: Simultaneous Flourimetric Determinations of Adrenaline and Noradrenaline in Blood , Acta pharmacol. et toxicol . 6:137, 1950.Crossref 12. Snedecor, G. W.: Statistical Methods , Ed. 4, Ames, Iowa, University of Iowa Press, 1946. 13. Stadie, W. C.; Haugaard, N., and Marsh, J. B.: Combination of Epinephrine and 2,4-Dinitrophenol with Muscle of the Normal Rat , J. Biol. Chem . 188:173, 1951. 14. Hökfelt, B.: Noradrenaline and Adrenaline in Mammalian Tissues , Acta physiol. scandinav . ( (Supp. 92) ) 25:1, 1951. 15. Udenfriend, S., and Wyngaarden, J. B.: Precursors of Adrenal Epinephrine and Norepinephrine in Vivo , Biochim. et biophys. acta 20:48, 1956.Crossref http://www.deepdyve.com/assets/images/DeepDyve-Logo-lg.png A.M.A. Archives of Neurology & Psychiatry American Medical Association

Pyrocatechol Amine (Catecholamine) Metabolism and Effects of Electroconvulsive Therapy

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References (15)

Publisher
American Medical Association
Copyright
Copyright © 1957 American Medical Association. All Rights Reserved.
ISSN
0096-6886
DOI
10.1001/archneurpsyc.1957.02330380094013
Publisher site
See Article on Publisher Site

Abstract

Abstract A number of theories purport to refer the etiology of psychoses to a disturbance in the metabolism of the sympathetic neurohumors1,2 or to an alteration in the functional activity of the sympathoadrenal system.3,4 Similarly, some of the explanations advanced to clarify the role of electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) utilize the same frame of reference.5 Such hypotheses ought to be verifiable directly by the investigation of the metabolism of pyrocatechol amines (catechol amines) in psychiatric patients. The release of pyrocatechol amines at sympathetic postganglionic nerve endings and from the adrenal medulla is well known,6 of course; but very little is understood about this release as it occurs after electrically induced convulsions. The finding by Weil-Malherbe5 of an elevated plasma epinephrine following ECT has provided more direct evidence of sympathetic involvement than had previously been available in man. Pekkarinen et al.7 have reported that administration of electroshock References 1. Sourkes, T. L.: Some Current Biochemical Theories of Psychosis , Canad. Psychiat. A. J . 1:73, 1956. 2. Garb, S.; Tiwari, N. M., and Chapman, L. F.: Some Hypotheses Concerning the Role of Sympathomimetic Amines in Psychiatric Conditions , Am. J. Psychiat . 113:740, 1957. 3. Kalinowsky, L. B., and Hoch, P. H.: Shock Treatments, Psychosurgery and Other Somatic Treatments in Psychiatry , Ed. 2, New York, Grune & Stratton, Inc., 1952. 4. Gellhorn, E.: Physiological Foundations of Neurology and Psychiatry , Minneapolis, University of Minnesota Press, 1953. 5. Weil-Malherbe, H.: The Effect of Convulsive Therapy on Plasma Adrenaline and Noradrenaline , J. Ment. Sc . 101:156, 1955. 6. von Euler-Chelpin, U. S.: Noradremaline , Springfield, Ill., Charles C Thomas, Publishers, 1956. 7. Pekkarinen, A.; Hakala, H., and Hyppönen, K.: On the Effects of Electric Shock on the Adrenals of the Rabbit , Acta endocrinol . 10:167, 1952. 8. Sourkes, T. L.; Sloane, R. B., and Drujan, B. D.: Effects of Electroshock on the Metabolism of Catecholamines , paper read at the 40th Annual Meeting of the Chemical Institute of Canada, Vancouver, B. C., Canada, June 1-6, 1957. 9. Sourkes, T. L., and Drujan, B. D.: A Routine Procedure for the Determination of Catecholamines in Urine and Tissues , Canad. J. Biochem. Physiol ., to be published. 10. von Euler, U. S., and Orwen, I.: Preparation of Extracts of Urine and Organs for Estimation of Free and Conjugated Noradrenaline and Adrenaline , Acta physiol. scandinav . ( (Supp. 118) ) 33:1, 1955.Crossref 11. Lund, A. L.: Simultaneous Flourimetric Determinations of Adrenaline and Noradrenaline in Blood , Acta pharmacol. et toxicol . 6:137, 1950.Crossref 12. Snedecor, G. W.: Statistical Methods , Ed. 4, Ames, Iowa, University of Iowa Press, 1946. 13. Stadie, W. C.; Haugaard, N., and Marsh, J. B.: Combination of Epinephrine and 2,4-Dinitrophenol with Muscle of the Normal Rat , J. Biol. Chem . 188:173, 1951. 14. Hökfelt, B.: Noradrenaline and Adrenaline in Mammalian Tissues , Acta physiol. scandinav . ( (Supp. 92) ) 25:1, 1951. 15. Udenfriend, S., and Wyngaarden, J. B.: Precursors of Adrenal Epinephrine and Norepinephrine in Vivo , Biochim. et biophys. acta 20:48, 1956.Crossref

Journal

A.M.A. Archives of Neurology & PsychiatryAmerican Medical Association

Published: Aug 1, 1957

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