The influence of reserpine on nitrogen metabolizing enzymes in chick liver

Reserpine, a Rauwolfia alkaloid, was shown to increase activity of the hepatic nitrogen metabolizing enzymes xanthine dehydrogenase, purine nucleoside phosphorylase, and tyrosine aminotransferase, when administered orally to young chicks. Using immunochemical techniques, this increase in xanthine dehydrogenase was shown to result from an enhanced de novo enzyme synthesis. The response pattern of the three enzymes to reserpine follows the same pattern to induction by high dietary protein suggesting that a common mode of action may be involved in the regulation of these enzymes. α-Adrenergic blockers, phentolamine and phenoxybenzamine, effectively prevented the increased enzyme activities caused by administration of reserpine.