DopAmide: Novel, Water-Soluble, Slow-Release l-dihydroxyphenylalanine (l-DOPA) Precursor Moderates l-DOPA Conversion to Dopamine and Generates a Sustained Level of Dopamine at Dopaminergic Neurons

Daphne Atlas*

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

9 Scopus citations

Abstract

Background: Long-term l-dihydroxyphenylalanine (l-DOPA) treatment of Parkinson's disease (PD) is associated with motor complications known as l-DOPA-induced dyskinesias (LID) and on/off fluctuations, which are linked to unsteady pulsatile dopaminergic stimulation. Aim: The objective of this study was to improve l-DOPA treatment by slowing and stabilizing dopamine (DA) production in the brain and increasing water solubility to provide a rescue therapy for PD. Results: We synthesized l-DOPA-amide, a novel l-DOPA precursor called DopAmide. DopAmide is water soluble and, as a prodrug, requires hydrolysis prior to decarboxylation by the aromatic l-amino acid decarboxylase (EC 4.1.1.28; AAAD). In the 6-OH-dopamine (6-OHDA)-lesioned rats, DopAmide maintained steady rotations for up to 4 h compared with 2 h by l-DOPA, suggesting that this rate-limiting step generated a sustained level of DA at dopaminergic neurons. Pharmacokinetic studies showed elimination half-life of l-DOPA in the plasma after DopAmide treatment of t1/2 = 4.1 h, significantly longer than t1/2 = 2.9 h after treatment with l-DOPA, consistent with the 6-OHDA results. Conclusions: The slow conversion of DopAmide to l-DOPA provides a sustained level of DA in the dopaminergic cells, shown by the long 6-OHDA steady rotations. The water solubility and improved bioavailability may help reduce medication frequency associated with l-DOPA treatment of PD. Sustained levels of DA might lower the super-sensitization of DA signaling and potentially attenuate l-DOPA adverse effects.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)461-467
Number of pages7
JournalCNS Neuroscience and Therapeutics
Volume22
Issue number6
DOIs
StatePublished - 1 Jun 2016

Bibliographical note

Publisher Copyright:
© 2016 John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

Keywords

  • Dyskinesia
  • L-Dihydroxyphenylalanine-induced dyskinesia
  • Levodopa
  • On\Off fluctuations
  • Parkinson's disease

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