Effect of chronic lead exposure on biopterin metabolism in the rat neostriatum.

Chronic (3 months) lead exposure increased the quinonoid dihydropteridine reductase activity and the tetrahydrobiopterin content but did not affect the GTP-cyclohydrolase activity and the dihydrobiopterin content. These results suggest that lead intoxication may enhance dopamine metabolism in neostriatum by increasing the content of tetrahydrobiopterin, the regulating cofactor of tyrosine hydroxylase activity.