Harman in rat brain, lung and human CSF: Effect of alcohol consumption

[3H]Harman Binding Experiments. I: A Reversible and Selective Radioligand for Monoamine Oxidase Subtype A in the CNS of the Rat

“…Therefore, a ratio of two [3H]harman-labeled sites per one MAO-A holodimer is more likely. Bosin et al (1989) determined a harman concentration of -2.3 nmol/kg in the whole rat brain, but Shoemaker et al (1980) detected 1.3 pmoi/kg in the rat arcuate nucleus. Thus, harman may represent, in some compartments, a significant endogenous MAO-A inhibitor with physiological relevance, as is possibly tribulin for MAO-B (Glover et al, 1988).…”

“…Harman ( 1-methyl-/3-carboline; Fig. 1) has been detected in many plants and fungi, as well as being an endogenously occumng biogenic amine in rats and humans (Shoemaker et al, 1980;Airaksinen and Kari, 1 9 8 1~;Rommelspacher and Susilo, 1985;Bosin et al, 1989). Harman belongs to a group of naturally occurring B-carbolines (BCs) with neurotropic effects in rat and humans, e.g., tremor, tonic-clonic convulsions, and hallucinations (Gunn, 1935;Sigg et al, 1964;Naranjo, 1979;Airaksinen and Kari, 1981b).…”

Harmaline Tremor: Underlying Mechanisms in a Potential Animal Model of Essential Tremor

“…Because ethanol is converted to aldehyde in tissues and in the stomach,2 a question is whether alcohol ingestion elevates β-carboline levels. Rats chronically administered alcohol display elevated plasma and brain norharman,3 but no change in brain or lung harmane 4. In humans, elevated plasma norharman is associated with heavy smoking rather than alcohol intake 5…”

β-Carbolines and Tetrahydroisoquinolines: Detection and Function in Mammals

“…The fully aromatic fiG's have been assayed by HPLC with fluorometric detection (8). Harman was found in blood plasma and erythrocytes from non-alcoholic subjects (8), in human platelets (29a, 30), in rat lung (31), brain (31,32), rat and human urine (32, 33) as well as in 1 sample out of 24 of human cerebrospinal fluid (31).…”