el Gemayel G, Trouvin J H, Prioux-Guyonneau M, Jacquot C, Cohen Y
J Pharm Pharmacol. 1986 Feb;38(2):134-6. doi: 10.1111/j.2042-7158.1986.tb04528.x.
Investigation by HPLC with electrochemical detection of dopamine (DA) metabolism in rat striatum after L-dopa + benserazide treatment allowed quantification of the time course evolution of DA, 3,4-dihydroxyphenylacetic acid and homovanillic acid levels. Furthermore, four peaks which did not appear in controls, were detected in treated striatum. One was identified as 3-methoxytyrosine, the level of which was still high 9 h after treatment. 3-Methoxytyrosine, has been detected previously in plasma of parkinsonian patients treated with L-dopa, and the disturbance in DA metabolism could explain some of the side-effects induced by that treatment.