Abstract
The passage of dopa and dopamine into the mouse brain has been studied with a combination of chemical determination and histochemical localization of certain monoamines and their precursors. L-Dopa, but not D-dopa or dopamine, readily penetrates into the capillary walls. These contain dopa decarboxylase and MAO, which impede the further passage of L-dopa into the brain. None of the compounds can pass into the endothelial lining of noncapillary intracerebral vessels. A free passage occurs in peripheral tissues as well as in brain areas known to be located beyond the blood-brain barrier.
The results demonstrate the existence of specialized brain barrier mechanisms at the vascular level.
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