L-Dopa-induced release of cerebral monoamines.

L-Dopa markedly increased the efflux of tritiated dopamine and tritiated serotonin from rat brain slices. This action appeared contingent on the decarboxylation of L-dopa to dopamine, since it could be blocked by an inhibitor of L-amino acid decarboxylase. Selective destruction of catecholamine-containing nerve terminals by 6-hydroxydopamine significantly decreased the uptake and release of tritiated dopamine but not that of tritiated serotonin. These observations support the hypothesis that a portion of exogenously administered L-dopa may enter central serotonin terminals and undergo decarboxylation to the amine with resultant displacement of the endogenous indoleamine from vesicular stores.