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Science 27 July 1979:
Vol. 205. no. 4404, pp. 410 - 412
DOI: 10.1126/science.451609
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Articles

Science, Vol 205, Issue 4404, 410-412
Copyright © 1979 by American Association for the Advancement of Science

articles

Erythrosin B inhibits dopamine transport in rat caudate synaptosomes

JA Lafferman and EK Silbergeld

Erythrosin B is a member of a class of fluorescein dyes that are suggested to elicit hyperkinesis when ingested by susceptible children. We found that erythrosin B inhibits dopamine uptake in rat caudate synaptosomes "uncompetitively" in the 10- to 800-micromolar range. Half maximal inhibition of uptake occurred at 45 micromolar. Uncompetitive inhibition denotes a decrease in efficacy of the dopamine membrane transport mechanism with an increase in affinity of dopamine to the carrier. Erythrosin B also decreased nonsaturable binding of dopamine to the synaptosome membrane. The inhibitory action of erythrosin B on dopamine uptake is consistent with the hypothesis that erythrosin B can act as a central excitatory agent able to induce hyperkinetic behavior.


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