Semicarbazide-sensitive amine oxidase and monoamine oxidase in rat brain microvessels, meninges, retina and eye sclera.

Monoamine oxidase-A and -B (MAO-A and MAO-B) and semicarbazide-sensitive amine oxidase (SSAO) activities were assessed in several rat micro-vascular tissues and eyes using selective substrates and inhibitors. In rat brain microvessels both MAO-A and MAO-B activities are relatively high and the levels of the two types of MAO's are comparable. Retina possesses a similar ratio of MAO-A and B but the activities are much lower. Eye sclera and meninges exhibit mainly MAO-A and MAO-B, respectively. Aorta is the only tissue where SSAO is the predominant amine oxidase. Relatively low, but significant amounts of SSAO were also detected in brain microvessels, meninges, retina and eye sclera. Methylamine was observed to be deaminated by SSAO from different tissues. The physiological and toxicological implications of amine oxidases in these tissues are discussed.