THE FATE OF CERTAIN SYMPATHOMIMETIC AMINES IN THE BODY

¹ From the Department of Physiology, University of Wisconsin Medical School, Madison

Sympathomimetic amines having no hydroxyl group on the benzene ring are excreted if the primary or secondary amino group is not on the terminal carbon atom of the side chain, for only in that position is it deaminated by amine oxidase. If the liver function is impaired by CCl₄ or hydrazine, those compounds having a primary or secondary amino group on a terminal carbon atom are also excreted to some extent.

An hypothesis has been presented that the oral efficacy and the excretion of these amines is dependent on whether the compound brought to the liver has its amino group in a position on the side chain where it can be deaminated by the amine oxidase and possibly other systems, normally.