Decarboxylation to tyramine: a major route of tyrosine metabolism in mammals.

Metabolism of tyrosine was examined in mice, some of which had been treated with an inhibitor of aromatic-L-amino-acid decarboxylase. The results of the study indicate that as the plasma and tissue levels of tyrosine are elevated, decarboxylation to tyramine becomes the predominant route of metabolism. At the highest dose of tyrosine used (1.5 g/kg), it was found that 42% of the administered dose was decarboxylated within 6 hr and only 11.5% was metabolized by the tyrosine aminotransferase pathway.