MAO activity in rat brain stem and cerebral cortex following acute and chronic treatment with L-dopa and ethanol + L-dopa.

This work reports the effects of acute and chronic administration of L-dopa and ethanol + L-dopa on MAO activity in rat brain stem and cerebral cortex using noradrenaline (NA), dopamine (DA), serotonin (5-HT) and tryptamine (Try) as substrates. The results obtained clearly demonstrate that acute and chronic treatment affects MAO activities in the two brain areas examined in opposite ways. Moreover, the two treatments show different effects both according to the substrate used, and, especially in the case of NA and Try, according to the brain area examined.