The effect of L-dopa and propranolol on human CSF cyclic nucleotides.

Human CSF cyclic AMP and cyclic GMP have been measured as possible indicators of activity of central neurotransmitter-sensitive adenylate or guanylate cyclase. In an attempt to help to identify the specific neurotransmitter systems of origin of human CSF cyclic AMP and GMP, we studied Parkinson patients with and without L-dopa therapy and schizophrenic patients before and after propranolol therapy. No effect of L-dopa or propranolol was found on CSF cyclic nucleotides. However, Parkinson patients had a 40-50% reduction of CSF cyclic AMP and a 80-90% reduction of CSF cyclic GMP compared with the schizophrenic patients. Implications of this finding are discussed.