Evidence for a clorgyline-resistant monoamine metabolizing activity in the rat heart.

When benzylamine was used as substrate, a component of the total monoamine oxidase (MAO) activity in the rat heart was found to be resistant to inhibition by clorgyline. The proportion of the total activity represented by this component, decreased as the rat grew. It was also inhibited by both semicarbazide and isoniazid but not by potassium cyanide. Inhibitor studies with MAO in subcellular fractions showed that this component was more concentrated in the microsomal and soluble fractions. However, it could not be concluded that the activity was entirely a soluble enzyme. Determination of quasi-Michaelis constants ("Km") for total benzylamine oxidizing activity revealed a high ("Km" of approximately 10(-5)M) and low ("Km" of approximately 5 X 10(-4)M) affinity component. The high affinity component was inhibited by semicarbazide and the low affinity component by clorgyline. In the presence of 10(-3)M clorgyline, the high affinity component showed substrate inhibition at higher substrate concentrations. The possibility is discussed that the clorgyline-resistant activity is due to an amine-oxidizing activity distinct from mitochondrial MAO.     

Monoamine oxidase activities in lymphocytes and granulocytes taken from pig blood

The characterisation of monoamine oxidase activities in lymphocytes and granulocytes was studied using cells prepared from pig blood. The specific activities against beta-phenylethylamine, benzylamine, tyramine and 5-hydroxytryptamine as substrates in granulocytes (G) were approximately twice those found in lymphocytes (L). The absence of the semicarbazide-sensitive amine oxidase (SSAO) was confirmed by insensitivity of the latter to semicarbazide as inhibitor with benzylamine as substrate. MAO activity present in (G) and (L) was selectively inhibited by low deprenyl concentrations; this fact, in addition to the simple sigmoid inhibition curves obtained with increasing concentrations of clorgyline with tyramine as substrate, suggests that the MAO activity present both in (G) and (L) is predominantly of the MAO-B form. The absence of any contamination with plasma amine oxidase (EC 1.4.3.6) was confirmed by the fact that activity towards benzylamine (Bz) was insensitive to KCN-induced inhibition. Kinetic constants were determined for each fraction towards beta-phenylethylamine (PEA) and Bz as substrates. MAO-B was titrated with unlabelled pargyline, deprenyl and [3H]-pargyline; the corresponding Kcat values, turnover number and the active concentrations were then determined. The molecular weight of MAO-B present in both cellular fractions was calculated by SDS-electrophoresis and fluorography, after reaction with [3H]-pargyline. Some of these results are compared with those obtained with human blood leucocytes.     

A comparison of cardiac and vascular clorgyline-resistant amine oxidase and monoamine oxidase: Inhibition by amphetamine,mexiletine and other drugs

Clorgyline-resistant amine oxidase (CRAO) and monoamine oxidase (MAO) were studied in homogenates of rat heart and aorta, using benzylamine and tyramine as substrates. In heart, benzylamine at 0.001 mM was deaminated solely by CRAO. With higher concentrations of benzylamine (0.01, 0.1 and 1.OmM), an increasing involvement of MAO-A and MAO-B became apparent in the deamination of benzylamine such that, at 1.0 mM benzylamine, deaminated products resulted equally from MAO-A, MAO-B and CRAO. In aorta, benzylamine was deaminated solely by CRAO irrespective of the concentration used. Tyramine (0.01, 0.1, 1.0 and 5.0 mM) was deaminated entirely by MAO-A in heart, whereas in the aorta both MAO-A and CRAO participated. In aorta the ratio of product formation from MAO-A and CRAO did not vary with changes in the concentration of tyramine, indicating similar K_m values for both enzymatic activities. Further studies with tyramine (0.1 mM) and clorgyline showed biphasic inhibition curves suggestive of two distinct MAO-A components in both heart and aorta. The two components showed different properties in the heart when compared with aorta. When homogenates of hearts were heated at 50° for 1 hr, their sensitivity to inhibition by clorgyline increased, while in homogenates of aorta sensitivity to clorgyline decreased. CRAO was investigated further with benzylamine as substrate. Kinetic studies gave similar K_m values for both heart and aorta (4–6 μM at pH 7.8), and these values were not altered by flushing the assay tubes with oxygen. However, flushing with nitrogen caused uncompetitive inhibition in the heart and noncompetitive inhibition in aorta. These results suggest a difference in the catalytic mechanism between CRAO of heart and aorta. In both heart and aorta, CRAO was inhibited by semicarbazide, (+)-amphetamine, phenelzine and (+)- and (?)-mexiletine, with the (+)-form being more potent. Straight-chain diamine and polyamine compounds failed to inhibit in concentrations up to 10^?4 M. Thus, CRAO is not a typical diamine or polyamine oxidase. The results show differences between heart and aortic CRAO and MAO-A, and the possibility exists for heterogeneity within each of these two distinct forms of amine oxidase. Additionally, drugs known to inhibit MAO-(+)-amphetamine, phenelzine and mexiletine also inhibit CRAO. However, the biological significance of since the physiological role of CRAO is unknown.     

Monoamine oxidase activities in brown adipose tissue of the rat: Some properties and subcellular distribution

Amine oxidase activity towards 5-hydroxytryptamine (5HT), tyramine (TYR), 2-phenylethylamine (PEA) and benzylamine (BZ) was studied in homogenates of interscapular brown adipose tissue of the rat. By the use of clorgyline, an irreversible inhibitor of MAO, it was established that 5HT was deaminated solely by MAO-A, and TYR and PEA mainly by MAO-A and clorgyline-resistant semicarbazide-sensitive amine oxidase (CRAO). BZ appeared to be oxidized almost entirely by CRAO. A very small amount of MAO-B activity was detectable with PEA and BZ as substrates. A variety of amines, amino acids and known amine oxidase inhibitors were tested for their ability to inhibit the deamination of BZ by CRAO. BZ metabolism by the enzyme was not affected by any secondary amines, unlike enzymes of the flavin type, but it was inhibited by carbonyl reagents, like the pyridoxal phosphate and copper-dependent amine oxidases described in plasma and connective tissue. Unlike these enzymes, however, CRAO in brown adipose tissue was resistant to KCN and unaffected by the amines, histamine, mescaline and some polyamines but it was inhibited by cuprizone. It was found to have a low K_m (<5 μM) for BZ and showed the greatest similarity to a clorgyline-resistant enzyme described in rat blood vessels. Cell fractionation studies revealed that CRAO, being associated with the particulate fractions, was mainly membrane-bound. The distribution of CRAO activity between various cell fractions was different from that of the mitochondrial enzymes assayed and was more like that of either the plasma membrane or microsomal enzymes. When microsomal and plasma membrane vesicles were separated CRAO activity appeared distributed equally between the two fractions, suggesting that the enzyme may have a dual location within the cell. The specific activity of CRAO was higher in brown adipose tissue from obese animals than in tissue from lean animals. The significance of these findings is discussed in relation to the possible physiological function of this enzyme.     

Role of benzylamine oxidase in the cytotoxicity of allylamine toward aortic smooth muscle cells

In this study we demonstrate that by inhibiting benzylamine oxidase (BzAO) with either semicarbazide or phenelzine, aortic smooth muscle cells (ASMCs) are protected from cytolethal injury by the cardiovascular toxin allylamine. We find that although both semicarbazide and phenelzine inhibit BzAO or ASMCs grown in vitro, phenelzine is the more effective inhibitor. We further demonstrate that although semicarbazide--at concentrations inhibiting BzAO--protects ASMCs from cytolethal concentrations of allylamine, it does not fully protect ASMCs from sublethal injury as assessed by [3H]uridine uptake. In contrast, phenelzine appears to afford complete protection of ASMCs from allylamine injury. Although semicarbazide and phenelzine pretreatment does not interfere with [14C]allylamine uptake by ASMCs, retention time of the 14C-moiety from radiolabeled allylamine is less in pretreated ASMCs. Subcellular distribution studies of ASMCs exposed to [14C]allylamine demonstrate that inhibiting BzAO activity in ASMCs results in marked derangement of the distribution pattern of 14C-moiety in subcellular fractions of ASMCs, with 14C-moiety not localized to mitochondrial/endoplasmic reticulum enriched fractions.     

Monoamine oxidase activities of porcine vascular endothelial and smooth muscle cells

Amine uptake by cultured vascular cells was studied under conditions minimizing nonenzymic oxidation. 5-Hydroxytryptamine (5HT) was accumulated only very poorly; detailed kinetic analysis couid not be performed, but there was no evidence for a saturable high affinity process. Comparison of β-phenylethylamine (PEA) and 5HT metabolism in intact cells and lysed cells demonstrated that the rates of entry of the amines into cells usually limited their metabolism especially at low (μM) concentrations. Primary cultures of aortic endothelial cells metabolised 5HT and PEA substantially faster than did subcultured endothelium. Subcultured aortic vascular smooth muscle cells and endothelial cells metabolised PEA and 5HT with comparable specific enzyme activities to those found in aortic medial tissue. Inhibition by clorgyline of PEA, 5HT and benzylamine (BZA) metabolism reveaied, however, that while aortic tissue possessed monoamine oxidase (MAO) types A and B and a comparable amount of a clorgyline resistant amine oxidase(s) (CRAO), cultured vascular cells possessed MAO-A, but little or no CRAO or MAO-B. Cultured venous endothelium, and smooth muscle from several vascular sites, metabolised PEA and 5HT at similar rates to those found in aortic cells. the studies demonstrate that although cultured porcine endothelial and smooth muscle cells from large blood vessels contain MAO, they do not apparently possess the amine transport process present in the lung. Additionally, conditions of culture can affect both the extent of amine metabolism and the pattern of amine oxidase present.     

Properties of a semicarbazide-sensitive amine oxidase in human umbilical artery

The metabolism of some aromatic amines by amine oxidase activities in human umbilical artery homogenates has been studied. The inhibitory effects of clorgyline showed that 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) and tryptamine, 1 mM, were predominantly substrates for monoamine oxidase (MAO) type A, whereas MAO-A and B were both involved in the metabolism of beta-phenylethylamine (PEA), 100 microM, and tyramine, 1 mM. About 20-30% of tyramine and PEA metabolism was resistant to 1 mM clorgyline, but sensitive to inhibition by semicarbazide, 1 mM, indicating the presence of a semicarbazide-sensitive amine oxidase (SSAO). Benzylamine, 1 mM, appeared to be metabolized exclusively by SSAO with a Km (161 microM) at pH 7.8 similar to that found for SSAO in other human tissues. Tyramine and PEA were relatively poor substrates for SSAO, with very high apparent Km values of 17.6 and 13.3 mM, respectively, when determined in the presence of clorgyline, 10(-3) M, added to inhibit any metabolism of those amines by MAO activities. However, kinetic studies with benzylamine indicated that clorgyline, 10(-3) M, also appears to inhibit SSAO competitively such that the true Km values for tyramine and PEA may be about 60% of those apparent values given above. No evidence for the metabolism of 5-HT or tryptamine by SSAO was obtained. The aliphatic amine methylamine was recently shown to be a specific substrate for SSAO in umbilical artery homogenates. We have used benzylamine and methylamine as SSAO substrates in histochemical studies to localize SSAO in tissue sections.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Inhibitory actions of hydralazine upon monoamine oxidizing enzymes in the rat

The inhibition by hydralazine of the clorgyline-resistant amine oxidase (CRAO) and monoamine oxidase (MAO) activities in various rat tissues has been studied. Hydralazine was a potent, time-dependent inhibitor of rat heart CRAO activity in vitro. The inhibition was not reversed by dialysis for 18 hr at 4 degrees, and only partially reversed by dialysis at 37 degrees. Dialysis at 4 degrees in the presence of pyridoxal phosphate (10(-4) M) also did not reverse the inhibition. Ex vivo inhibition of CRAO was found in heart and aorta homogenates in a dose-dependent manner after administration of hydralazine (1-40 mg/kg i.p.) to rats. In contrast, MAO-A activity was unaffected or, in some cases, significantly increased in these tissue homogenates from drug-treated animals. However, in vitro inhibition by hydralazine of both MAO-A and B activities of rat liver mitochondrial fractions was found, and these effects were fully reversible by dialysis for 18 hr at 4 degrees. Inhibition of MAO-A was competitive (Ki of 2.5 X 10(-6) M), while inhibition of MAO-B showed complex mixed non-competitive kinetics. These results indicate that hydralazine possesses different inhibitory properties towards the various amine oxidases in rat tissues, and these actions are discussed in relation to the clinical use of the drug as an anti-hypertensive agent.     

Substrate specificity and inhibitor sensitivity of monoamine oxidase in rat kidney mitochondria.

The deamination of the substrates 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT), tyramine, dopamine, β-phenylethylamine and benzylamine by rat kidney mitochondrial monoamine oxidase (MAO) was studied, and kinetic constants are reported for each substrate. By the use of the selective MAO inhibitors, clorgyline and deprenyl, 5-HT and benzylamine were found to be substrates for types A and B MAO, respectively, in this tissue, whereas the other substrates were metabolized by both forms of MAO. No evidence for any significant metabolism of 5-HT or benzylamine by other amine oxidases was obtained. However, some conditions under which the carbonyl reagents semicarbazide, isoniazid and aminoguanidine may interfere with assays for MAO, without actually affecting enzyme activity directly, are described. Preincubation of kidney mitochondria with histamine resulted in a time- and oxygen-dependent irreversible inhibition of both type A and type B MAO activity; the exact nature of the inhibitory agent and its mode of action remain to be determined.     

Modification of the N-methyl-D-aspartate response by antidepressant σ receptor ligands

Sertraline, a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor, and clorgyline, a monoamine oxidase inhibitor, both of which have high affinity for σ receptors, were assessed in an electrophysiological model. In keeping with previous data obtained with other σ receptor ligands, low doses of sertraline and of clorgyline potentiated selectively with a bell-shaped dose-response curve the effect of N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) on pyramidal neurons in the CA₃ region of the rat dorsal hippocampus. This potentiation was reversed by the σ receptor ligands haloperidol and BMY-14802. The selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor paroxetine and the monoamine oxidase inhibitor tranylcypromine, both devoid of affinity for σ receptors, had no effects on the NMDA response. These data suggest that the effects of sertraline and clorgyline on the NMDA response are due to their affinity for σ receptors.     

Semicarbazide-sensitive amine oxidase from the smooth muscles of dog aorta and trachea: activation by the MAO-A inhibitor clorgyline.

Semicarbazide-sensitive amine oxidase (SSAO) has been identified in the dog trachea and aorta smooth muscles. The dog SSAO is blocked by hydrazine inhibitors. SSAOs from several different vascular smooth muscle sources, such as the rat and bovine aorta, and human umbilical artery, as well as the bovine plasma, are insensitive to the MAO-A inhibitor clorgyline; the dog SSAO on the other hand is significantly activated by clorgyline. Two methods, i.e. radioenzymatic and fluorometric methods, have been applied to substantiate this clorgyline-induced activation. The activation was detected with respect to the deamination of different substrates, such as benzylamine, beta-phenylethylamine and longer carbon chain aliphatic amines, but not with respect to methylamine. The clorgyline effect is reversible, non-competitive and time-independent; it depends on electrostatic and hydrophobic interactions between clorgyline and hydrophobic regions of the dog SSAO enzyme.     

A comparative study of some kinetic and molecular properties of microsomal and mitochondrial monoamine oxidase

This experimental work tries to characterize the monoamine oxidase of microsomal origin through its kinetic and molecular properties, and to establish a comparative study with the enzyme present in rat liver mitochondria. The temperature effect upon this catalytic activity was examined and similar behaviour of MAO A and MAO B between both cellular fractions was found. The study of the pH dependence of initial velocity showed similar results both in mitochondria and in microsomes. The FAD cofactor is covalently attached to the MAO of microsomal origin. The FAD containing subunits corresponding to MAO A and MAO B, previous binding of the enzyme with [3H]pargyline and posterior SDS electrophoresis and fluorography, showed molecular weights of 65,900 and 62,400, respectively, in both cellular fractions. The inhibition curves with clorgyline, deprenyl, semicarbazide and KCN, measuring the remaining activity towards 1 microM of benzylamine, indicated that in mitochondria 5% of the total activity is due to the presence of SSAO activity whereas in microsomes this activity represents about 20%. From all these results it appears that mitochondrial and microsomal MAO are related enzymes, although further structural studies are necessary to confirm their possible identity.     

Some properties of monoamine oxidase and a semicarbazide sensitive amine oxidase capable of the deamination of 5-hydroxytryptamine from porcine dental pulp

The deamination of 5-hydroxytryptamine, tryptamine and benzylamine by porcine dental pulp membrane preparations is brought about not only by monoamine oxidase, but also by a clorgyline (and deprenyl) resistant, semicarbazide sensitive enzyme. The semicarbazide sensitive enzyme was also inhibited by aminoguanidine, hydroxylamine and phenylhydrazine, but was not affected to any significant extent by incubation at 50° for up to 100 min. There was, on the other hand, considerable inhibition of monoamine oxidase activity after incubation at this temperature. The semicarbazide sensitive enzyme neither metabolised, nor was inhibited by putrescine or cadaverine. Mixed substrate experiments indicated that 5-hydroxytryptamine and tryptamine interacted at the same catalytic centre on the semicarbazide sensitive enzyme.     

The inhibition by clorgyline of 5-hydroxytryptamine deamination by the rat liver

The inhibition of the monoamine oxidase activity in the rat liver by the substrate selective inhibitor clorgyline has been investigated with 5-hydroxytryptamine as substrate. The results obtained are consistent with a theoretical model whereby the inhibition of enzyme activity by clorgyline follows a reversible association phase leading to an irreversible ‘suicide’ reaction. The relative concentrations of enzyme and inhibitor are of the same order, and can account both for the failure of the reaction to go to completion, and for the differences in the apparent sensitivity of enzyme preparations to inhibition by clorgyline. The possible value of this type of inhibition as a means of assay for monoamine oxidase active centres is discussed.     

The inhibition by clorgyline of 5-hydroxytryptamine deamination by the rat liver.

The inhibition of the monoamine oxidase activity in the rat liver by the substrate selective inhibitor clorgyline has been investigated with 5-hydroxytryptamine as substrate. The results obtained are consistent with a theoretical model whereby the inhibition of enzyme activity by clorgyline follows a reversible association phase leading to an irreversible 'suicide' reaction. The relative concentrations of enzyme and inhibitor are of the same order, and can account both for the failure of the reaction to go to completion, and for the differences in the apparent sensitivity of enzyme preparations to inhibition by clorgyline. The possible value of this type of inhibition as a means of assay for monoamine oxidase active centres is discussed.     

Binding of [14C] allylamine to isolated mitochondria from rat heart and aorta

This study demonstrates specific and saturable binding of [14C] allylamine to mitochondria derived from rat aorta and heart. Specific binding is linear with respect to mitochondrial concentration and has a pH optimum of 7.0. Saturation isotherms reveal anomalous kinetics of specific binding on heart mitochondria with a high affinity site (KD 16 nM) and a lower affinity site (KD 80 nM); Scatchard plots have a common intercept. Exhaustive flow dialysis in the presence of SDS demonstrates that as much as 23.5% of bound radioactive moieties in aorta mitochondria are covalently bound, and as much as 42.6% are covalently bound in heart mitochondria. Hydrolysis of heart mitochondria with phospholipase C markedly enhances saturation of [14C] allylamine, and greatly increases the quantity of covalently bound radioactive ligand. Phospholipase C hydrolysis of heart mitochondria increased monoamine oxidase B activities and unmasked a small amount of benzylamine oxidase activity, whereas hydrolysis of mitochondria with phospholipases A2 and D diminish MAO-B activity. The monoamine oxidase B inhibitor, deprenyl, significantly reduced both specific and covalent binding of the 14C-activity from [14C] allylamine to phospholipase hydrolyzed mitochondria. The benzylamine oxidase inhibitor, phenelzine, significantly decreased specific binding but had no effect on the degree of covalent binding of [14C] allylamine to phospholipase C hydrolyzed mitochondria. The benzylamine oxidase inhibitor, semicarbazide, had no effect in inhibiting [14C] allylamine binding. Covalent binding of 14C-moiety from [14C] allylamine to mitochondria--which express specific binding sites for the [14C] allylamine--and inhibition of binding by monoamine oxidase inhibitors, suggest the formation of highly reactive intermediates.     

Selectivity of clorgyline and pargyline as inhibitors of monoamine oxidases A and B in vivo in man

During 4 weeks of treatment with clorgyline, a selective MAO-A inhibitor, platelet monoamine oxidase (MAO) activity was unchanged. During a similar 4-week crossover treatment period with pargyline, a selective MAO-B inhibitor, platelet MAO activity was essentially completely inhibited in the same individuals. The differential effects of the two drugs on platelet MAO, which consists exclusively of the MAO-B form, suggests that the in vitro selectivity of clorgyline, and possibly of pargyline, on MAO-A and MAO-B may be maintained in vivo during long-term administration in man. Reductions in blood pressure, heart rate, and plasma amine oxidase activity were generally similar in magnitude during treatment with both drugs, however, suggesting that either these effects are nonspecific consequences of both MAO-A and MAO-B inhibition, or that pargyline also inhibited MAO-A activity.     

Characterization of N-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP) binding sites in C57BL/6 mouse brain: mutual effects of monoamine oxidase inhibitors and sigma ligands on MPTP and sigma binding sites.

N-Methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP) induces Parkinson-like symptoms in humans, nonhuman primates, and mice. Several studies suggest that MPTP is metabolized by monoamine oxidase (MAO) type B to yield N-methyl-4-phenyl-pyridinium (MPP+), which is responsible for the neurotoxic effects of the drug. In the present study, the pharmacological properties of [3H]MPTP binding sites in C57BL/6 mouse brain membranes were investigated, and a possible relationship to the sigma binding sites was examined. Both equilibrium binding experiments and kinetic assays indicate that [3H]MPTP labels two distinct binding sites in C57BL/6 mouse brain. The high affinity [3H]MPTP binding sites (Kd = 13 nM) are selectively blocked by the MAO type A inhibitor clorgyline, and the residual low affinity [3H]MPTP sites (Kd = 1100 nM) display the pharmacological specificity of MAO-B binding sites. In contrast, the low affinity [3H]MPTP binding sites are blocked by the selective MAO-B inhibitor (-)-deprenyl, and the drug-specificity profile of the remaining high affinity sites is consistent with the properties of MAO-A binding sites. The affinities of several MAO inhibitors tested and of MPTP for the high affinity MPTP/MAO-A binding sites correlate well (r = 0.96) with their affinities for the sigma binding sites labeled with [(+)-[3H]-3-PPP]. The sigma receptor ligand (+)-3-PPP displays moderately high affinity for the MPTP/MAO-A binding sites but negligible affinity for MPTP/MAO-B sites. Moreover, (+)-3-PPP alters the dissociation kinetics of MPTP from the high affinity MPTP/MAO-A sites. The finding that [3H]MPTP labels MAO-B sites supports the hypothesis that the drug is a substrate for these enzyme binding sites. However, the finding that the high affinity sites, labeled by [3H] MPTP, are particularly sensitive to MAO-A inhibitors, which also display high affinity for the sigma binding sites, may suggest a possible relationship between MAO-A and sigma binding sites. In turn, the kinetic experiments imply that sigma ligands [i.e., (+)-3-PPP] may allosterically modulate the binding to MAO-A binding sites.     

Serum effect on cellular uptake of spermidine, spergualin, 15-deoxyspergualin, and their metabolites by L5178Y cells

Spergualin (SG) and 15-deoxyspergualin (DSG) were more slowly incorporated into L5178Y cells than spermidine. SG and DSG inhibited carrier-mediated transport of [3H]spermidine competitively with inhibition constants of 0.67 mM and 0.45 mM, respectively. Addition of calf serum stimulated uptake of [3H]spermidine into the cells in a serum concentration-dependent manner. The effect was not observed when horse serum was used in place of calf serum. Preincubation of spermidine in calf serum for 1 hour before addition to cells remarkably decreased cellular incorporation of tritium. Three amine oxidase inhibitors, aminoguanidine, 3-hydroxybenzyloxyamine, and semicarbazide, inhibited stimulation of uptake of [3H]spermidine by calf serum and the decrease of it by preincubation in calf serum. So we propose that cellular incorporation or binding of products generated by oxidation of spermidine by amine oxidase in calf serum was much faster than that of spermidine itself and they were unstable and transformed quickly to unincorporable or non-binding substances if cellular targets were not present. Effect of amine oxidase inhibitors on cytotoxic activity of SG and DSG were determined in low and high concentrations of calf serum. In the presence of 10% calf serum in the basal medium, cytotoxicity to L5178Y cells by SG and DSG was suppressed at high drug concentrations (above 10 micrograms/ml) and enhanced at low drug concentrations (below 2.5 micrograms/ml) by amine oxidase inhibitors. In the presence of 0.5% calf serum suppression of cytotoxicity at high drug concentrations by amine oxidase inhibitors was also observed, but enhancement at low drug concentrations was obscure. These data may suggest the existence of two kinds of cytotoxic mechanism of SG and DSG, one dependent on and one independent of amine oxidase in serum.     

Inhibition by pargyline of cardiovascular amine oxidase activity

Pargyline, a monoamine oxidase inhibitor, is an antihypertensive agent. We report on the ability of pargyline to inhibit the oxidative deamination of norepinephrine (NE) and 2-phenylethylamine (PEA) by rat heart and mesenteric artery. The cardiovascular tissues appear to contain amine oxidases that are quite different from those of brain. For example, pargyline, when tested in vitro or administered to rats, did not differentially block the deamination of NE and PEA as it does in brain. Moreover. there is a PEA oxidase activity that is blocked by pargyline and an activity that is resistant to pargyline but blocked by semicarbazide or cuprizone. PEA oxidase activity can be differentiated from NE oxidase activity by thermal stability. The pargyline-resistant PEA oxidase activity may be related to a connective tissue amine oxidase.