Effect of disulfiram and sodium diethyldithiocarbamate on tyrosine and dopamine-beta-hydroxylases activities in rat brain and heart.

Tyrosine hydroxylase and dopamine (DA)-beta-hydroxylase activities in rat brain and heart after disulfiram (DS) or diethyldithiocarbamate (DDC) administration have been determined in vitro and in vivo. DS and DDC in vitro stronger inhibit DA-beta-hydroxylase than tyrosine hydroxylase activity. 50% inhibition of tyrosine hydroxylase activity needed about twice higher concentrations of DS and DDC than the same inhibition of DA-beta-hydroxylase. Inhibition of the above enzymes in the in vivo experiments was DS or DDC dose dependent.