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Biological Sciences: Human Brain Monoamine Oxidase: Multiple Forms and Selective Inhibitors

Nature volume 236, pages 225–228 (1972)Cite this article

Abstract

IT is well recognized that monoamine oxidase (monoamine: O2 oxidoreductase (deaminating), EC 1.4.3.4) (MAO) plays an important role in the degradation of biologically active monoamines in the brain1,2. There is much evidence pointing to changes in monoamine metabolism in mental illnesses characterized by alterations in mood3,4. Perhaps the most important property of MAO inhibiting drugs is their ability to bring about a lightening of affect in depressed patients5. That this effect results solely from the inhibition of MAO has not been widely questioned, although the antidepressive effect is not shared to an equal extent by all drugs in the group6. An attempt has been made to explain this finding in terms of differing ability of the MAO inhibitors to prevent amine re-uptake7; however, it has seemed to us that an explanation might better be sought in terms of differential inhibitory capacity of these drugs on the four molecular variants of MAO in the human brain8.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Bernhard Baron Memorial Research Laboratories and Institute of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Queen Charlotte's Maternity Hospital, London, W6

    M. B. H. YOUDIM, G. G. S. COLLINS, M. SANDLER, A. B. BEVAN JONES, C. M. B. PARE & W. J. NICHOLSON

  2. Department of Psychological Medicine, St Bartholomew's Hospital, London, EC1

    M. B. H. YOUDIM, G. G. S. COLLINS, M. SANDLER, A. B. BEVAN JONES, C. M. B. PARE & W. J. NICHOLSON

  3. Department of Geriatric Medicine, The Brook General Hospital, London, SE18

    M. B. H. YOUDIM, G. G. S. COLLINS, M. SANDLER, A. B. BEVAN JONES, C. M. B. PARE & W. J. NICHOLSON

Authors
  1. M. B. H. YOUDIM
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  2. G. G. S. COLLINS
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YOUDIM, M., COLLINS, G., SANDLER, M. et al. Biological Sciences: Human Brain Monoamine Oxidase: Multiple Forms and Selective Inhibitors. Nature 236, 225–228 (1972). https://doi.org/10.1038/236225b0

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